This morning, when I was giving away my dollar, I was thinking (or, rather, listening to my inner critic…) about why I was doing this. It was as if I was questioning why I was still giving away a dollar, every day…
I’ve heard the words of the voice before, and this time the dribble wasn’t much different - “C’mon now Todd, you’re a grown man, and you’re still hiding dollars for people to find… What’s wrong with you? You’re acting like a little kid…”
I mentioned this to my wife later on.
Thank goodness for her refreshing insight! She reminded me what many of the great books and sages have said, “Be like a child”. And that children naturally do what so many of us adults have to work hard to do because we’ve forgotten - trust.
Thank you, Victoria, for reminding me. And for helping me to renew my commitment to the joyful excitement of Give Away A Dollar A Day, which has such remarkable effects for anyone of any age!
I “officially” started to Give Away A Dollar A Day in August of 2007. If you don’t already know about it, you can read the whole story here.
And, there’s another version that started about 10 years before that, which you can read about here.
However, I have not yet publicly told the story of the first time I truly experienced a miracle from giving…
It was in the fall of 1995. I had just been laid off from a company where I had worked for eight years. This was in complete surprise so I had no plans in place to update my resume and hit the trail to go out on the job hunt again. On top of that, I had been married for a little less than a year, with a brand new baby, and a new mortgage payment. This was not a good time to be laid off…
Within a few short weeks before this happened, my wife, Victoria, and I had started a course at Unity Church in Houston called the 4T Course, which is all about increasing prosperity through tithing your time, talent, and treasure (you don’t have to look hard to find the 4T’s in that title!)
Now I had not traditionally been an avid church goer, and so the whole idea of tithing on a regular basis, and in the amount of 10% of my income, was all new to me.
My fellow course students all knew when I got laid off - I had put out the word mostly for networking reasons. And although I don’t remember who said it, someone suggested that I increase my tithe to 10% of the amount that I desired to make in my NEXT position… You might want to read that again…
That sounded pretty magical to me, so I took up the suggestion. But there was this lingering thought in my mind that even though this was cool, it may not really work or pan out fully. Well, guess what, contacts and connections started pouring in, and I was once again gainfully employed within about two months. Here’s the incredible part, though - my new compensation was EXACTLY equal to what I had been tithing toward!
I was blown away! My wife was blown away! This was nothing short of a miracle from giving!!!
I kept up with the tithing, and eventually boosted it again to the next new level that I wanted to make. And… it happened AGAIN! This may be hard to believe, but it is very true, my total increase in income from before being laid off to three years later was a staggering 4 TIMES!!!
Tithing, giving, letting go, in faith, and in trust, works. Always.
I was in our local CVS Store, shopping for a birthday card for my nephew, Mark. He’s a young man who continues to inspire me with his belief in his own dreams, and who is now a successful car designer because he never stopped believing! So I knew I wanted to get him an uplifting, can-do kind of card.
I don’t think I was even in the card section for two seconds when I spotted this keeper…
I bought it right away, but…
I couldn’t yet leave the store because I hadn’t given away my dollar for the day. And this is where the fun really started…
Whenever I Give Away A Dollar A Day, I usually leave… well… a dollar! But e v e r y once in a while, I go for the stretch and leave a little more. This was one of those days… I left ten dollars!
But I got especially creative on this go-around. I had taken out ten ones beforehand, rolled them up tight, and rubber banded them together. So right before I left the card aisle, I put that roll inside of one of the Be Do Dream Thrive cards that was still up on the shelf.
So the next person to buy one of these inspirational cards…? Ooh yeah!!!!!
I love giving! And I am so grateful to be able to do it, every day!
I just had an incredible experience… I was looking around the house for books from which I could find quotes on prosperity, for study and for possible inclusion in my weekly e-mail Inspirations From Give Away A Dollar A Day.
The more I looked, the more I realized my bookshelves were filled with books on self-improvement and how to GETmore out of life.
I then went into my daughter’s room to look for a particular book I had remembered was filled with such joy and inspiration, “Life’s Little Instruction Book”. I couldn’t find that particular one, but what I found instead were plenty of books of imagination and where she could GOin life.
This is kind of a give away idea, because it’s what I did recently when I went to the bank to “refill” my give away envelope! (where I store all my soon-to-be gifts )
Here’s what I do - I usually get thirty $1’s for the whole month ahead. Lately, though, I’ve been having some fun adding a single $10 to my stockpile so that, on one day of giving away, I’ll be giving away a $10!!
Well, today was even more magical! I got twenty $1’s, and I got that $10. But I also got ten $1 coins. This was inspired by my friends Marie and Sharon in Canada and Jenny in Ireland, because they give away coins and not paper bills. I decided I wanted to give it try and see what it’s like giving away coins! I’ll report back on that later…
But I did one more thing at the bank… I got ten more $1’s, and curled them up and bound them with a rubber band. So whoever finds this bundle will really be surprised when they unwrap the rubber band to find not one… and not two… but ten $1 bills!
Thank you Spirit, for this most blessed and magical gift of giving!
OK, so I’m going out on a limb with this one… I’m not really sure what this has to do with giving, but I absolutely LOVE these pictures!!
You may have already seen some of them as they are making their way around on the web. My wife, Victoria, sent me an e-mail with these photos and I immediately fell in love with them, because of the power and the possibilities that I was feeling with each one! On top of that, I had just finished a conversation with my good friend, Mr. 2020, about possibilities. You know, it is so awesome when everything just comes together…
Enjoy!
(You can click on the thumbnails for a larger view of each picture)
PS - You know something… I don’t have to think about this at all… my heart knows exactly what these magical pictures have to do with the infinite possibilities of giving!
I never cease to be amazed at the incredible creativity that some folks have! Especially when it comes to really creative ways for giving away dollar bills.
Origami is one of those great ideas… Blending true art with the generosity of every day giving!!
OK, ok… so I admit I’m a little biased about the subject material…
And, I loved one of the comments to his post, by Bart, who was expressing his gratitude for Give Away A Dollar A Day. Here’s some of what Bart wrote:
I’m also having big fun with giving away a Euro a day (I live in Belgium, Europe) and I’m very thankful for the tips Todd is giving through his blog and mailing list. Those tips helped me a lot in finding more fun to give away that Euro each day. Even tough I’m definitely not rich (and guess what: I’m having a HUGE process with money) I’ve found it very liberating in giving a Euro away each day. Why? Because by doing so I’ve come to realise I don’t have a lack of money. I’ve never eaten a slice of bread less because of this action.
On Sunday night, the 4th of May, I was interviewed by Mrs. Clause !
I know, I know, it’s pretty hard to believe. But it’s true… Mrs. Clause interviewed me!! No kidding.
And… She made me an Honorary Elf!!!
You can check out Mrs. Clause and all of her unique gifts of joy and good ol’ year round Christmas cheer at HoHoHoChristmas.com!
Oh… Back to that interview now…
Mrs. Claus broadcasts her podcast interviews on the Conversations with Mrs. Clause show. My interview with Mrs. Clause, about Give Away A Dollar A Day and the joy and good in giving, will air on July 22nd. (I’ll send out a reminder!)
We had a rockin’ good time during this interview that you won’t want to miss!
In the meantime, be sure and keep the Spirit of Christmas and good cheer and giving from your heart year round!
My family had a grand adventure just this past weekend. We went firewalking. Yep, that’s right… FIREWALKING!
We had done this a couple times before, but it had been awhile. So we were eager to reunite in the loving energy of the incredible Fire Master, John Maisel, of Eagle-Heart. I was tempted to write much about it here, but I just can’t top what John wrote in a 2004 article called “The Reason for Overcoming Fear”:
One of the major lessons that I teach in my Firewalking seminars is how to reclaim true vision. A simple example of that process is to consider that when we look at red, hot 1400 degree coals we do not envision any possibility that they could be “ice cold” and that a safe pathway across exists. However, if we choose to change our focus from the “red” hot coals, instead focusing on the space of possibility… the black space between the red coals. When we focus on that black space, the void where all possibility exists, then and only then can we see with true vision. Then we can see the energy fields created by the pulsating, decomposing wood coals. Then we can learn how to “become one with the fire” and walk safely across… or as with some in our Eagle Heart Core group… stand on the coals and ride the waves of energy present awaiting us upon the coals.
And here’s a short little video to spark your curiosity…
Be sure to turn your speakers on and turn the volume up!
Now, if you look closely, in the middle you’ll see a clip of my wife and daughter walking across the coals. And toward the end, I’m helping a friend, Ted, carry a wonderful and adventurous woman in her senior years (who showed up at this ceremony with her oxygen talk and walker) across the coals… Hey, ANYBODY can do this!!
I usually give away a dollar every day, and most often anonymously. But my family and I have been watching the tragedy in Myanmar continue to grow larger by the day. Although I still gave away a dollar today, we felt that it was the right thing to do to make a donation to the Red Cross International Response Fund to help in our own way the victims of Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. There are many ways we all can help. I hope that you take action and do what you are called to do.
Blessings,
The Silvas
PS - 5/9/08 Edit: When I first posted this on Tuesday, I knew a little bit about the dealings with the military leadership in Myanmar, but not as much as I do now. Personally, I am appalled at what the junta is doing to deprive their own people of the most urgent and basic needs of survival. However, I do not feel our donation is at all for naught. My hope is that the US and the rest of the world continue to flow aid to that country even if it is not yet allowed in. Because it is only a matter of time before the walls will come down…
PPS - 5/13/08 Edit: Ten years ago, my family lived through a flood - a horrifying experience we would wish upon no one. Although there were many organizations proclaiming that they would help, only one truly came through, and right away, with their “boots on the ground”… The Red Cross. This is why we made another donation today to The Red Cross for the earthquake disaster and victims in the Sichuan Province of China and surrounding areas. We believe that The Red Cross will come through for the victims in both China and Myanmar, just as they had done for our family and our neighbors. The Red Cross does just what they say they’re going to do.
First of all, Give Away A Dollar A Day is catching on! Folks are having a lot of fun with this, and quite a few are writing to me with their stories of positive, personal transformation, and with their own creative ideas for giving away!
But here’s the part that’s interesting… Most of the ones writing to me are women.
What I don’t know is exactly how many men are giving away every day vs. how many women. But if the feedback I’m receiving is any indication, there just aren’t as many men who Give Away A Dollar A Day.
Here is an e-mail I received from Marie. I was so deeply touched by this, Thank You Marie!
Hi Todd,
I LOVE your idea of giving away a dollar a day and heard about it on the LOA radio show which I just listened to last week. I LOVE finding money myself and have a jar filled just with found coins. Last week I decided to do this also with the addition of a short poem paper-clipped to the dollar bill or dollar bill rolled and tied with a ribbon which reads:
I’ve left this here for you to find,
It’s just a random act of being kind.
Give unconditionally to others and you’ll discover,
Your own happiness and joy you’ll recover!
Have a great day!
I wrote this poem because I really want the recipients to know that it was a special gift, not just someone who made a mistake and dropped a dollar… This past week I have left my dollars on the sink counter of ladies rest rooms, on a hook in a bathroom stall (this one was rolled up & tied), under new merchandise at the Golfsmith store, on a walkway through a garden tour, and I sent one to my sister in Florida for her to drop somewhere. Wouldn’t it be great for others to copy this idea and for it to become so widespread that someday I will find the very same gift with a note attached that I am leaving for others! I am doing this in the spirit of having fun with no other expectations. Thanks for inspiring me and others to have some fun while giving to others.
P.S. For the past year when I travel (infrequently) on a toll road I always go through an attended lane and pay for the car behind me. It is so much fun to do something unexpected for a stranger! When my nephew is in the car with me he watches for the person’s reaction and smiles and waves to them. It makes me feel very abundant to be able to pay for someone else. Occasionally the driver in the car will speed up and wave thanks to me and that is nice, too. It feels wonderful to know that I have surprised someone and given them a sign that they are cared for. And then I think that perhaps this one act of kindness could inspire them to do the same for others–like in the “Pay it Forward” movie several years ago.
After I read this, I wrote back to Marie, and confided in her that I thought all along I was the one doing the inspiring… What is really happening though is that folks just like Marie are inspiring me!
Many, many thanks again Marie! You are a blessing,
A few years ago, my wife planted a bush in our back yard that was purported to attract caterpillars and butterflies. Well this Spring, it attracted them alright!
Dozens of these little crawlies started appearing in April, so our whole family has been blessed with watching them grow, then building their cocoons, and finally emerging in their magnificence as gorgeous Monarch Butterflies.
Just this past weekend, though, there was one that really caught my attention. I got a chance to watch as this colorful Monarch had just come out of its cocoon. Never having witnessed anything like this before, I didn’t know that it was going to have to hang on to its old home for a while. Since it was brand new, it wasn’t quite ready to fly, not just yet. Yes, it was drying its wings out, but I imagined it was preoccupied with mustering up all its energy for its first flight!
In a bold move, it let go of its cocoon, and began to climb up one side of our house. I was sure this was the moment, and I watched with much anticipation!
Something must have caught its leg, though, because it slipped and fell. It tried to flap its wings, but it just wasn’t ready for flying.
It was OK, though, because it fell into a plant where it had some time to walk around and slowly open and close its wings as if to stretch them and get them “ready”.
Quite a bit of time passed before it started back up another side of our house. I was still so captivated that I couldn’t do anything else – feeling like a proud “dad”, I was determined to be there for its “moment”!
Well, you’ve probably guessed by now, its moment came. It flew!
But the truly incredible gifts, and lessons, were in how it flew.
On this final journey up the side of our house, it got caught again, and began to fall. And just like the first time, it flapped it wings. But something was different – it all came together this time around. Its wings worked! It was flying! It was doing what all caterpillars dream of!!
All of the excitement turned into a tiny lump in my throat as I felt both sadness and joy, along with a profound lesson I was blessed with from this magical experience.
Step Five in The Attractor Factor by Joe Vitale is to let go. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have chosen not to fly in my life, because I held onto the belief that I wasn’t ready yet.
But this Monarch didn’t stop to think about it. It didn’t dwell on whether it was ready or not. It just let go. And Divine grace unfolded.
Thank you, Butterfly. Thank you for truly being a loving expression of infinite possibilities to me!
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