“Our standard is giving more than what is expected.”
I try hard to do the weekly core value communications in order each week but found it very hard on this Christmas week to not write about GIVING, so here we go!
This core value you have probably heard 100 times, along with the other six. Still, maybe you don’t know that this one did not only come from Jack’s heart because he is a good person. There is a secret within this core value that once you understand and implement, you will realize that a much higher level of happiness is within your reach; all you have to do is focus on one word in this core value: GIVING!
December is an excellent month around the world. Everyone is in the “Christmas Spirit,” and everyone is in the GIVING mood. Although it’s cold in most parts of the world, it’s cold during this month, but you still see people happy and smiling a lot. It’s because they have a different mindset around this time of year, one of gratitude and feeling blessed because of their blessings, so they look forward to GIVING or sharing those blessings with others.
Whether it is donating to the poor, buying a gift for someone, or volunteering, many people look for opportunities to do all three, and they find that it makes them feel good and feel happy! They start to crave that feeling and don’t even realize that with all that GIVING of money and time also comes happiness that changes us and the way we act.
We smile more, so we start GIVING more positive energy to those around us, and we don’t even know it. We also find ourselves wanting to be more kind because of the “thank you’s” we receive, so we start GIVING more kindness to others, and we don’t even realize it. We slow down and appreciate what we have, and it inspires us to GIVE our patience to others, and we might not even notice it. We remind ourselves that life is short and GIVE forgiveness to others we disagree with.
I could continue with the examples, but the point I am trying to make is that when we have a grateful mindset and a GIVING heart, it makes us feel good. It also creates even more, giving that we are not even noticing from ourselves. You see, GIVING can be something as simple as a smile or something as powerful as creating hope for others.
When you understand this and accept it, you realize that GIVING once a year or occasionally does not make sense. We have all said it before, “I wish it were like this all year.” But why can’t it be? We can choose to GIVE, and we can choose to do it even after December 25th; we can always decide to GIVE!
At TLC, we understand this, and we accept it. That why our standard is GIVING more than what is expected all year, all day, and every hour. When we GIVE, we know that we start a continuous cycle of GIVING that can help change the world and help keep us happy every day. You must reflect on this and GIVE it a good effort every day; it will help you make a total life change, I promise! Once you realize that GIVING is the most fruitful path to receiving, all you want to do is GIVE.
A smart man (Mark Twain) once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” I agree with that, but over the years have made my quote that is a little different:
“The two most important days in our life are the day we are born and the day we realize that we were all put here on this earth to give to others.”
– John Licari
I believe that we all have a gift inside of us. In a way, God and the universe have put a special talent inside us that was not put there for ourselves; it was put there for others. Many people don’t realize this and think that whatever they are good at and passionate about is something they have been blessed with but seldom know they must share this with others.
If you are funny, you should tell jokes; if you are patient and kind, you should be a nanny; if you are good at math, you should be a CPA or financial advisor. NOT because this will make YOU money but because this will serve others, and ultimately when you help others, you will get what you deserve, but you have to trust it. Give unto others, don’t expect anything in return, and keep doing it. Watch God and the universe do their work!
I am proud of all of us and what we have built and continue to build here. Our community is like no other, and our impact on the world is greater than you may think. People have hope because of TLC. Many know about TLC and think we sell TEA, and they are right, but the main product that we sell is HOPE, and we don’t charge for it; we GIVE it for free, and that is why we continue to get what we deserve and have been blessed beyond our imaginations.
Merry Christmas to all of you and your families; thank you for allowing me to serve you all every day, it is truly the thing that brings me great joy, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Every year I have my tradition on Christmas eve. After everyone goes to sleep at midnight, I sit in front of my tree alone for 10 or 15 minutes, I listen to specific Christmas music, and I stare at the lights and reflect on all the blessings I have and thank God for them. Please know in your heart that all of you will be in my thoughts, and I will pray for continued blessings to serve all of you as well as I can in 2021 and beyond.
People sometimes ask me what I want for Christmas, and here is the answer:
Start GIVING now, don’t wait until tomorrow, and when you start, don’t ever stop GIVING. If you run out of money, GIVE you time; if you run out of time, GIVE your apologies; if you run out of energy, take some NRG but keep GIVING! You will find all the fortune in the world by GIVING!
Thanks for reading!
Merry Christmas, and may God continue to bless us all!
