#GivingTuesday is on November 28th. It’s not as popular as #BlackFriday or #CyberMonday, but #GivingTuesday gives us all an opportunity to make a positive difference in the world around us.

For some people, giving can be hard to do. Think of Scrooge or the crying child who is being told to share something she doesn’t want to.

For others giving comes quite natural. When my daughter was in the 5th grade, she told me about a little girl in another class who often forgot her lunch. And how her friend (let’s call her Angel) would always bring something extra for her classmate to eat. No one asked Angel to share her lunch. She just saw a need and filled it. I know this because Angel’s mom told me she asked her to pack extra lunch for her friend at school.

Why did Angel give? The simple answer is because she cared.

“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in
what he is capable of receiving.”
– Albert Einstein

When I wrote “Get Your Money Right”, giving had to be one of the seven keys to unlocking a better financial future. However a friend of mine, who read an advanced copy, urged me to take it out. She said, “No one wants to hear about giving.”

Needless to say, I left it in because giving is simply too important to leave out. I’ve never been one to shy away from a tough subject and even took it a step further encouraging the reader to give freely:

“Finally, the last principle of money is to give freely-without expecting anything in return. There’s joy in giving when you do it from the heart. Giving enables us to make a positive impact on the world.

There are so many ways we can give, such as volunteering our time at a local school or giving money to support those less fortunate. When you give, it has a boomerang effect, because even though you’re the one giving, you’ll also find yourself on the receiving end.”

This coming #GivingTuesday, I encourage you to think of a cause to support to make this world a better place. And remember giving is not limited to money or a specific day. Please consider giving your time, a smile, a listening ear or showing your kindness in another way to make a positive impact.

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds
unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
– Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV)

Wishing you and yours a very Happy ThanksGIVING!