Be kind - give generously

Hello High Heelers

So technically I should have lost 5 kgs this week after banning cheap chocolate from my life, but I’m not quite sure the benefits have kicked in yet (the summer clothes are all feeling unapologetically TIGHT!). I do find myself being more positive now that I’m focussed on the big Q (for quality – in case you forgot!).

I had a beautiful experience this past weekend. While shopping in Rosebank with the boyfriend, an old beggar with kind weathered eyes came up to me and asked for money. The boyfriend gently denied him assistance, wished him luck and politely sent him on his way. Suddenly I had this deep gut feeling that we should have helped him. So I told my man. He immediately went into ‘hero mode’ (very cute, I must say). He dashed off to the ATM, drew R100 and went searching for the beggar. After much CSI work, we found him in the parking lot and handed over the cash. The man immediately dropped to his knees and started crying and thanking the heavens for the money. There was no question – it was the right thing to do and I had a moment of complete peace and understanding that I had carried out a little task that was so much bigger than me, or the boyfriend.

Generosity is important. By giving, you share your humanity with the world. This is another thing that Natalie does ridiculously well – though I had to do some serious digging to find out more. Natalie once flew one of our cleaning ladies to Cape Town with an urgent envelope, just to allow her to enjoy her first flight in an aeroplane and a night in a fancy hotel. She arranges training for people in the office. She mentors where she sees potential and she does many other things that not even her assistants will tell me about. Generosity, I believe, is one of the keys to being a quality person. There’s the old cliché – what comes around goes around. Well, Natalie puts it in a slightly different way; she says you get what you attract. Makes sense.

I must apologise for not doing a good stalking job this week. Natalie is very private and secretive about her generosity. Though I believe there is a lesson in this too. We should give without expecting recognition or anything in return. We should give just because we’re lucky enough to have. We should give because it makes a difference to the receiver. We should just give. I did this yesterday. I donated money to some young journalism students who are putting together a magazine. I did it quietly without expecting anything in return and it felt great! But now that I’ve told you all about it, I guess it doesn’t count anymore.

Well, High Heelers, my stalker-information may be limited this week, but the message is clear! Let’s all try to up our generosity this week as we strive to walk taller and bring others up with us.