America’s poor and lower-income earners give more on a percentage basis than those in higher-income groups. They tend to keep up their giving in tough economic times, according to McClatchy Newspapers.

This is a trend I've personally seen in the many non-profits my company works with. Higher dollar donors have cut back more than donors who give between $25 and $250. An obvious reason is that people who are poorer have not seen their investments decimated. And the psychological factors related to giving are affected by fear and loss.

I had gone for surgery on May 14 at UBC hospital.

I met with an administrative assistant who went through the basics - care card, identification, procedure.

This was followed by a meeting with the nurse who helped with the intravenous and other medical formalities.

Then I met with the trainee, who explained the anesthesia options, followed by the anaesthetist who clarified few things.

I had a big project I needed to get out this week.  Each time I went to the project, I put it way, as it was an overwhelming exercise.

However, each time I opened the file for this project, I jotted down points or things I needed to do to complete the project.

This morning I started in a similar fashion.  However, I had made up my mind to complete it, no matter what.  Amazingly, two hours into it I had cracked the code and was well on my way to getting it done.

Life can be very complex or very simple or anything in between.  It is what you make of it.

At one extreme, there is death and the end of it all.  At the other extreme, there is birth and start of it all.

You ask, if in the end we all die with nothing, what is the point of all the struggle?

You ask, if birth brings about all the struggle of raisng a child, making them go through school, work life, financial challenges all for them to die with nothing, what is the point of it all?

We just found out that The Power Of Giving, won the prestigious NAUTILUS SILVER AWARD!

The Nautilus Book Awards recognize and reward world-changing books.  This is the 9th annual award.  Past winners include: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle. 

Why do we procrastinate?  Some of the reasons why we procrastinate are:

Life is an experience to cherish,
         A fleeting moment to savor;

Life is a journey to eternity,
         A blessing to be part of;

Life is a voyage to be charted,
         A path to create for others;

Life, with all its twists and turns, is long and complex,
         Yet it is as short as the blinking of the eyes;

There is a time for joy and time for sadness; a time for victory and time for defeat; a time for growth and time for shrinkage.

A time of sadness brings one close to the recesses of their soul; in defeat a lesson to learn which otherwise you would not; in shrinkage a time to reflect.

No matter which season of life greets you, there is a sense of peace and serenity in you.  And at every turn of the cycle, be it up, be it down, be it sideways, you find something to give - whether it is your time, wisdom or energy.

What you can do today, do not postpone to tomorrow.

This is true for things of importance such as:

• expressing love and gratitude to near and dear ones
• doing things for people you care about
• saying "I am sorry" to someone you have hurt or forgiving someone who has hurt you
• doing a random act of kindness and giving.

Many of these things do not take too much time or, for the most part, too much effort.

What you need is desire!
Without desire:

I did a speech this week and someone commented he liked what he heard.  I said thank you and asked him what did he specifically liked about what he heard?  He could not come up with anything specific which made me think that perhaps I was not as effective.  Then he said something which startled me.  He said you came across genuine, most of the speakers I have listened to are so full of themselves!!

I know that I have been guilty of being too full of myself, and I was happy that I was not during this speech.