Seven Days of Giving

Reciprocity is defined as a mutual exchange. It simply explains that that when someone gives you something or does something for you, that you feel an obligation to give back and return the favor.

Serial reciprocity is exactly what one might expect – a series of sequential exchanges between parties.

This set of exchanges is unique because they do not occur between two people in a closed quid pro quo arrangement.

Instead, serial reciprocity is “when people repay the benefits they have received – for example, from a parent, friend, mentor, anonymous stranger, or a previous generation – by providing benefits to a third party, someone other than their benefactor”

Serial reciprocity differs from other forms of reciprocity because the original donor or volunteer does not receive anything tangible, measurable or immediate in return for his or her initial good deed.

I define serial reciprocity as, “the principle that says we should repay the good works and contributions done for us by the good works and contributions we, in turn, do for others”

Thus, in serial reciprocity, individuals “pay it forward” instead of paying it back.

In the film Pay it Forward, a teacher asks his young students to fix what they don’t like about the world. A student, Trevor, completes the assignment by helping three people.

In return, he asks only that each individual help three more people, and request that they do the same. Trevor hopes to change the world one action at a time using the principle of serial reciprocity to begin an unending chain of positive events.

The 7-Day Benevolence Challenge

I’d like to offer you a 7-Day Benevolence Challenge where you will engage in a series of random acts of benevolence and expect nothing in return.

GUIDELINES

1. For each of the next seven days, identify a person or group of people whom you would like to help.

* You can choose one person for each of the seven days, and you can also recruit others to participate in the challenge with you.

2. Think of a special act of benevolence that you would like to do for them.

3. Be creative, if possible, refrain from using money, use your melon and think of ways to use your time, talents or special gifts to blow someone?s mind, or simply put a smile on their face.

4. Remain anonymous.

5. Leave a note for the beneficiary of your benevolence. Ask them to Pass it On and do a good deed for someone else.

Why Should You Participate?

Serial reciprocity is of critical importance on four accounts. The first, and most obvious, is that it widens the circle of giving, allowing recipients to become givers by doing good deeds for another.

Second, the deeds of these “new” givers perpetuate benevolent action and ensure its place in society.

Third, serial reciprocity is essential to the transmission of benevolent values from one generation to the next.

Finally, the ultimate test of the impact of an individual is twofold: whether the world they left is qualitatively different from that which they inherited, and what contribution they made to that change.

Therefore by participating in the 7-Day Benevolence Challenge, you are helping to make the world a better place and inspiring others to do the same.

I hope that by sharing this understanding of serial reciprocity and by offering it as a challenge, that it illuminates benevolent motives in people throughout the world.

I believe that once people recognize the importance of serial reciprocity and consider its implications, it becomes difficult to imagine daily life without engaging in random acts of benevolence.

So what are you waiting for? Begin your challenge today, and be sure to pass this message on to everyone in your address book.

What To Do Now? Begin your 7-Day Challenge and post all of the fun, kooky and creative ideas you come up with. In addition, tell us how you felt when you were engaged in these anonymous acts of benevolence.

I often ask myself;

What I have done in the past year to make this planet a better place to live?

What legacy will I leave behind?

On birthdays, you generally receive material gifts, which you can?t take with you, so this year I am reaching out to you for a special favor which I?ll get to in just a moment.

As I have aged, the clock and calendar constantly remind me that my time here is finite, and that I best be mindful of my time and focus.

I am well aware that I have limited time to build something of substance, something that will transcend my own existence.

Therefore my goals must be clear, my responsibilities fulfilled, and my intentions and actions must be honorable.

I believe that leaving a legacy is substantially more important than leaving an inheritance, and that the ultimate test of the impact of my life is twofold:

Whether the world I leave is qualitatively different from that which I inherited, and ?

What contribution have I made to that change?

With those thoughts in mind, I am reaching out to you to help me make a difference.

We can help do this by engaging in RANDOM ACTS of BENEVOLENCE.

On June 28th, I am asking you to do a nice deed that will positively and significantly impact the lives of three people.

Your reward will be the good feeling that comes from helping another person and in nurturing benevolent acts in others.

Guidelines

1. Identify three people or groups of people whom you would like to help. You can also recruit others to participate in this benevolent act with you.

2. Be creative, use your melon, and think of ways to use your time, talents or special gifts to blow someone’s mind, or simply put a beautiful smile on their face.

3. Remain anonymous.

4. Leave a note for the beneficiary of your benevolence. Ask them to “Pay it Forward” and to do a good deed for someone else.

5. Send me your story; let me know what you did and how it made you feel.

I have always felt that there are not enough NICE stories in circulation and hope that through your actions we can inspire random acts of benevolence throughout the world.

By participating in these acts you are helping to make the world a better place and inspiring others to do the same.

I believe that once you recognize the importance of these acts and consider their implications, it becomes difficult to imagine daily life without engaging in random acts of benevolence.

Thank you for helping me to make a positive and lasting impact.

P.S. Any day is a good day for a nice deed!

What To Do Now? Engage in three random acts of benevolence and remember to Comment and Share your story with friends and colleagues.

Who is Santa Claus?

As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa has been handing out $100 bills, sometimes two or three at a time, to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots.

During his life he’s anonymously given out more than $1.3 million. It’s been a long-held holiday mystery: Who is Secret Santa?

Larry Stewart passed away on January 12, 2007 from esophageal cancer but not before he revealed his identify and passing on his belief in random acts of benevolence.

Mr. Stewart made his millions in cable television and in long-distance telephone services.

His holiday giving started in December 1979 when he was nursing his wounds at a drive-in restaurant after getting fired.

It was the second year in a row he had been fired the week before Christmas.

Turning Tragedy into Opportunity

Soon after getting fired, Mr. Stewart was at a drive in restaurant and came across a car hop: “It was cold and this car hop (waiter or waitress who brings food to people at drive-ins) didn’t have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think I got it bad. She’s out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,’” he said.

He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change.

“And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me.’”

Stewart was moved and went to the bank that day and took out $200. He then drove around looking for people who could use a lift.

That was his “Christmas present to himself.” He hit the streets each December since.

While Stewart has also given money to other community causes in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Miss., he offers the simple gifts of cash because it’s something people don’t have to “beg for, get in line for, or apply for.”

That was a feeling he came to know in the early ’70s when he was living out of his yellow Datsun. Hungry and tired, Stewart mustered the nerve to approach a woman at a church and ask for help. The woman told him the person who could help was gone for the day, and Stewart would have to come back the next day.

“As I turned around, I knew I would never do that again,” Stewart said.

Over the years, Stewart’s giving as Secret Santa grew. He started a Web site. He allowed the news media to tag along, mostly because he wanted to hear about the people who received the money. Reporters had to agree to guard his identity and not name his company.

His entourage grew over the years, and he began traveling with special elves and training others to be Secret Santas.

The Spirit of Secret Santa is Alive and Growing

Today, Larry Dean Stewart’s loyal Elves and the Secret Santas he trained are building upon the foundation he laid.

A new group of Secret Santas and Elves are very busy this Christmas. They are going coast to coast in selected cities and towns to spread hope this Christmas, giving one hundred dollar bills to the needy.

This year in his honor each one hundred dollar bill will bear the name Larry Stewart Secret Santa.

They will also be training those who have come forward to be a Secret Santa Leader in their community.

Could you be a Secret Santa? Go the Secret Santa Society to learn how.

Also, while you may not be able to pass out $100 dollar bills, how can you make a difference in the life of just one person in your community?

I’d love to hear about it.

Happy Holidays!

GRB