Giving With Gusto- No Strings Attached!

December 4th, 2008 Posted by Suzy Ogé

How much would you pay for a hug? How much would you pay a stranger to fly around the world hugging other strangers? How much would I pay? Nothing! But even more importantly, how much would I charge? Again, nothing!

I couldn’t believe it when I came across the Inspire Me Today HUG TOUR via an e-mail from an otherwise interesting and reliable source. Gail Goodwin is making big proclamations about changing the world by delivering 100,000 hugs on a trip around the world. In fact, with a quick calculation the mission appears to be a scheme plan to make a million dollars (for herself) by charging $10 per hug. Her husband happens to be a pilot for a private jet company and he will fly her around the world to deliver the hugs and collect the cash. I am not impressed!

Find more videos like this on 29-Day Giving Challenge

The following day my colleague Lisa showed me 29gifts.org, I was understandably skeptical. But I watched this video of Cami Walker over Lisa’s shoulder and wanted to pass it along, because Cami gives with no strings attached. The 29 Day Gift Giving Challenge was inspired by Mbali Breazzo, a South African Medicine Woman. The challenge is to give away something, big or small, every day for 29 days. My favorite part of the challenge is to give away one thing you think you could never part with.

The holidays are the season of giving, but too often the purpose of giving gets lost. Maybe now is the right time for you to try it, or together with your kids? If you start today, you might be a different person by New Years Day, which is only 29 days from now. (Why wait to make a New Year’s resolution?) Even if you are a very generous person, beginning each day with the purpose and intention of giving will certainly change your outlook. Giving is a powerful force and I am all for creating a generosity movement, no strings attached!