Your Last Five Bucks

Charity is a vital part of our growth as human beings. The last few years have been very trying for millions of American families. We have cut back on most everything, and we take much longer to make a decision about spending money (that is a good thing). One of the hardest hit areas in our country, which is always hit hard when there is a financial crisis, is charity. After all, we have to take care of ourselves first before we can help others, right?

Not always. You may remember that the first Weekly Tune Up discussed expanding your mind through difficult circumstances. So, naturally our first instinct when money is tight is to cut back and contract. This is where we make a big mistake and forget about our purpose as martial artist, which is to help others. Helping others is a lesson in expansion. It creates an opportunity for us to grow when we think we can’t.

That’s really what it is all about. Giving when you think you can’t. Have you ever seen the movie “Pursuit of Happiness” starring Will Smith? Towards the end, Smith’s character is FLAT BROKE and living on the street with his young son. He is in an elite stock brokerage training program that he does not get paid for. After his classes, the top boss, who is obviously rich, needs to take a cab but has no cash. He sees Smith’s character, and being completely unaware of his personal circumstances, casually asks him to borrow $5. Smith’s character nearly sinks in to the floor, slowly opens his wallet, and forks over his last $5. The true story later goes on to show that he gets the big job and eventually becomes a millionaire. Oh, and his boss repaid the $5.
We can get so caught up in the way we feel and the psychology of things that we forget that we live on this planet with other people and that we need to help each other. This coming week, give when you don’t have it. Help when you don’t think you can. Go out of your way for someone when it is totally inconvenient. Give someone your last $5. When it is all said and done, you may be pleasantly surprised.

All the best,
David Alvas