At the heart of generosity lies a deep belief in abundance⏤a core conviction that you will always be provided for, even if you let go (and share) some of what you have. 

When it comes to giving, it’s easy to forget that you can give directly to those in need. You don’t have to funnel your generosity through a middle man⏤a church, charity, or nonprofit organization. With open-mindedness, situational awareness, and a little creativity, you can find lots of little ways to share your prosperity directly with others. Here are some common (and easy) ways to spread a little love: 

Next in Line

  • When going through a toll booth, pay for the car (or cars) behind you. Sometimes this starts a chain reaction where each car pays for the next person in line. 
  • When in the grocery store, offer to pick up the tab for the person in front of you. If you would prefer to do this anonymously, buy a store gift card and hand it to the person behind you right before you leave. You could even make it a habit to carry gift cards from various stores (grocery store, hardware store, pharmacy, etc.) so that you are always prepared to give someone a helping hand. 
  • When dining out, tell your server to give you the check for a person or family also dining there.

Money and Knowledge

Slip $20 into a library book. You could even choose books that a careful budgeter might read. For example: Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day, by Leanne Brown.

Partner with the Pros

Every professional doing business as a sole proprietor or small business owner has clients who struggle to pay for their services. Ask your hairdresser, barber, massage therapist, personal trainer, or pet groomer if you could pay for one of their clients anonymously or donate money to a general fund to cover the costs of people in need. If you are feeling especially generous, ask your mechanic, dentist, doctor, or lawyer if they have a client you could cover the costs for. Even if no one has ever raised this subject with them before, most professionals will be willing partners in funneling your assistance to the right individual. Better yet, if you are one of these professionals, consider doing some pro bono work and providing your services free of charge for one or two clients.

It’s never wrong to be generous. Consider reviving the old-school tradition of giving away 10% of everything you earn. Why not? It’s truly countercultural.

Copyright 2023 Kesel Wilson (entirely, 100% human-created)

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