As I write this, the Bail-Out Bill is failing. It infuriates me.

Do I think that it is the perfect solution? Not at all. There’s are kinds of wrong hidden within, not to mention blame and accountability, but we gotta have this. That’s the short answer.

You know when I talk about “them” or “they”, well our government leaders are part of that herd. They have jobs, they don’t have to even pay for postage, nor do they worry about security of their homes (that’s HOMES, plural) thanks to have an assigned CIA security force, or is health care an issue, paid for. They get to vote on if they should get pay raises - guess what, it always goes through - weird huh?

And here we are in a time of NEED. Rich voting on the conditions of the poor, middle class and even some of less rich. And who let us get here? Who should be raising their hand for the past YEARS having voted for rules and measures that took away the protection of Americans, and lined the pockets of more of them? Who has jeopardized “The American Dream”? Any guesses?

Man, as a kid, I never would have thought, it would have come to this…

Right now, the bill stands as NOT passing. Of course, it’s not over. Claws will come out yet, people will be pressured to change the opinion on both sides. Republican or Democrat does not matter here. American is what matters.

You have not seen the UGLY that this will bring out yet.

So, what to do? Protect yourself, add more cash flow, keep yourself healthy (you cannot AFFORD NOT to be!), and have faith in universal laws that are greater than all of us: like the Golden Rule. Essentially, the Law of Reciprocity.

And it is a secret - - “the secret” - - that few know at a deep level. What will bring more fortune in your life, NOW? Giving. And necessarily money. And yes, there’s a catch.

Not just any giving. See…people give their money and time on a regular basis, but still Karma come back to bite them on the ass some times. Why? Universal laws.

See, the TRICK of giving, the Real Secret, is HOW you Give and WHY you Give.

There are folks in my neighborhood who are quick to help a neighbor - - IF publicly, there’s some reward: such as recognition, or the “earned right” to gossip about how they came in and saved the day.

Well that’s not GIVING with the right intention.

The giving I am talking about, is much more difficult.

I use to believe that “the more I gave the more I got”, and my intentions were good, BUT I was expecting REWARD for the effort. Which, not at all, suggests what I gave was not valuable, but how I give now, is a bit different. And IT is the secret.

So, how does one give, in order to have Karma shine on them positively?

Selflessly. Selfless Giving is the KEY to having more of what you want. “Doing the right thing, JUST because it is the right thing to do” vs. giving a piece of yourself or something of value to you IN ORDER to get something. See the difference?

I’ve been a “giver” my whole life. It was ingrained in me when I was young.

But I had to TEACH myself, selfless giving, which is harder than it sounds.

This past Saturday, my parents forwarded me an email from a United Way Director in Lebanon Ohio, with a cry of desperation looking for volunteers. That’s a bit out of the way for me, and frankly, with gas what it is, it cost me. Plus, I had to supply a lunch, because I’m vegetarian. I was already sore and tired with projects around the house, and looking after some neighbors who have health issues or recently widowed. I had 2.5 hours sleep.

Long story short, a 4 hour volunteer role, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. had me leaving at 4:45 p.m.. I’m still a bit beat from the whole thing. But, you put the time in, try to enrich people’s lives while you there - both other volunteers and the folks who will be effected by your work, in this case a homeless shelter, that needed work done inside for upkeep and repair. Not just, friendliness, but sharing what are called: “teachable moments”, that allow that person to take away some new found leverage in their own lives to enrich others. That’s where magic happens.

I talked about painting technique with some, (which is one reason I got the original email, as I have some expertise at it, am fast and precise), health insight with others, etc..

You give and give and give some more, and believe that what you do matters, helps, picks people up, invests in their hope and plants seeds that grow within the people you touch.

And when you hear a cry of help, you do it again.

And you let go. Knowing in your heart you stepped up, did the right thing, and then you just get back to what you normally do, rolling with the punches…

Take care; I’m thinking about you today,

Big Joe

–