We Can Change Our Lives by Promoting the Pleasure of Others

The news is usally full of the failings of our celebrities or people in high places. The negative attention that they receive from the press changes their lives and the lives around them. Rarely do we get a positive glimpse of those people that are inspired to give back or pay forward.

"One's personal enjoyment is a very small thing, but one's personal usefulness is a very important thing." Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness. "The most delicate, the most sensible of all pleasures," says La Bruyere, "consists in promoting the pleasures of others."

And Hawthorne has said that the inward pleasure of imparting pleasure is the choicest of all. "Oh, it is great," said Carlyle, "and there is no other greatness,--to make some nook of God's creation more fruitful, better, more worthy of God,--to make some human heart a little wiser, manlier, happier, more blessed, less accursed!" The gladness of service, of having some honorable share in the world's work, what is better than this to change lives?

Oprah Winfrey recently created the "Big Give." Successful people competed by being judged on the ways that they were inspired to assist others who were going through challenging times in their lives. This "Big Give" inspired others to give back. Inspirational speaker Ellie Drake was able to raise $100,000 in less than 24 hours to give to the St. Bernard Project of New Orleans.

By being inspired by the "Big Give", Ellie and her partners with a purpose were able to assist in building 10 homes for those that were devasted by Hurricane Katrina. The "Big Give" has had a ripple effect in changing lives with many people receiving unexpected gifts from people that they did not even know.

The Secret Santa has died but his random acts of blessing people during the holidays are being carried on. Secret Santa USA is the website that is dedicated to Ted Horn and Larry Stewart and the millions of other's who change the lives of people more than they may ever know just by a single Act Of Kindness, an "AOK."

The Society of Secret Santas is an anonymous group of leaders throughout the world, performing random acts of kindness to those less fortunate. Using their own financial resources and without a tax deduction, these leaders share their wealth with those in need. They give from their hearts remaining forever anonymous. The compassion shared from one spontaneous random act of kindness is elevating, priceless and not easily explained. It is an instant connection between souls that can change a life forever. This is the experience of being a Secret Santa. Being a Secret Santa has blessings beyond words.

Secret Santas share the following characteristics and values:

* Anonymity: They do not draw attention to themselves and strive to protect their personal identity and those of other Secret Santas.

* Leadership: They lead by example.

* Humility: Through belief in the human spirit, they share their wealth in a humble, selfless way.

* Compassion: Through random acts of kindness, they tap into the human spirit and try to create in the recipient hope and a belief that they are worthy of unconditional love.

* Humor: They would rather lose every dime they ever made than lose their sense of humor.

* Friendship: They value their association with people of like mind and character; they are each a true Elf.

"The Lord must love the common people," said Lincoln, "for he made so many of them, and so few of the other kind." To extend to all the cup of joy is indeed angelic business, and there is nothing that makes one more beautiful than to be engaged in it. "The high desire that others may be blest savors of heaven." The memory of those who spend their days in hanging sweet pictures of faith and trust in the galleries of sunless lives shall never perish from the earth. By bringing pleasure to others, we can change their lives which in turn can change the lives of those that follow them.

Works Cited: Secret Santa USA

Submitted by Amelia Johnson

Seed Newsvine

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