Service is the rent you pay...

I'm not sharing any of this for kudos, a pat on the back, or an "attaboy." I'm sharing this in hopes that maybe someone else will be inspired to do more, to give without expecting a reward. The reward is knowing your rent is being paid.

   Muhammad Ali once said "Service is the rent you pay for your space here on Earth." Lemme break that down a bit for those who don't get it. Giving to others in need is what you're supposed to do as a human being. I know it's hard to set aside cynicism and mistrust in a lot of instances, but do what can be done to help others. 

   Last year at this time, I was going through one of the absolute darkest periods in my existence. A lot of things were either falling apart or had completely collapsed. Friendships which were supposed to be unbreakable were ripped asunder, and "forever" relationships were destroyed. 

   I rebuilt, regrouped, refocused, and paid attention to things I hadn't given thoughts to before my dark period. Things such as who really has my back, supports me, encourages me, inspires, or simply listens without judging. The realizations of how many illusions I'd believed, woke me up, making me acknowledge blessings I'd previously taken for granted. 

    Anyhow, as I've grown in this past year, I've also been on a mission to be a better citizen of the world. My wife and I had so many 3 A.M. conversations about helping others that we finally just started doing it. Lol. By "doing it" I mean paying our rent with service.

     Traci has always been charitable, cooking breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House for the families, doing work at homeless shelters, etc. So when she came out with her line of "Dopeness" products, she decided she'd donate ten percent of her earnings to charity. Damn. Not her profits, her overall earnings. Nice, right?

    Inspired by her, I decided I'd donate money from each book I sell, as well as products from my own brand 'Life is a Banquet.' Why not? I got rent to pay.

    This year I've donated to wildlife funds, hurricane relief efforts (both public and personal), and a myriad of other things which require assistance. Five dollars here, ten dollars there, whatever I can give, I give. Why not?

     Last year I was almost killed twice, once by an anonymous bullet, the other time on purpose. Yet I'm blessed to still be here, breathing, laughing, traveling, loving, learning, working, writing, and living. I must have a purpose, right? Right.

     Giving to others, while expecting nothing in return, is its own reward. Nah, we're doing nothing special, just paying our rent...