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The Joy of Giving
Give yourself entirely to those around you. Be generous with your blessings. A kind gesture can reach a
wound that only compassion can heal. - Steve Maraboli
Hello Friends,
Thanks for your continued support and encouragement. This week I will celebrate ninety (90) days of
blogging daily. I recognise that your time is precious and that I must compete with your other interests
for your attention. For this reason I am committed to doing my best to ensure that my daily blogs are
interesting, informative and uplifting for you. Your support is sincerely appreciated.
Today I would like to share with you joy of giving. On Friday I delivered approximately 1060 pounds of
non-perishable food items to the Salvation Army of Brampton as part of my High Performance Leaders
project titled Holiday Season Food Drive. I was ecstatic when I made the delivery.
The mystery of giving revealed a truly fantastic feeling that words cannot begin to describe. I felt a sense
of pride and accomplishment from the fact that I am contributing to the noble cause of the Salvation
Army helping those in greater need than myself and my family. I am a firm believer that success and
happiness is derived from doing the things that you are truly passionate. The level of contentment that
is derived when you are able to put the interest of others before your personal interest is truly
unbelievable.
The donation I made to the Salvation Army of Brampton last Friday was courtesy of Chosen Voices and
Point of Tale Toastmasters Clubs at Loblaw in Mississauga, Ontario at President Choice Circle.
FarazMoin, theVP Public Relationsof Point of Tale Toastmasters, led the food drive collection at Loblaw.
He placed my posters in the kitchenettes all over the Loblaw’s building to promote my project. Through
his efforts and assisted by AmparoCifuentesand other of members of both clubs they collected over
1060lbs of non-perishable items. Today let us salute FarazMoin, AmparoCifuentes and the members of
Chosen Voices and Point of Tale Toastmasters Clubs at Loblaw.
When we think of giving, it is easy to say that we don’t have enough so there is nothing that we can give
to anyone. However, do we have time and skills that we can give? Can others benefit when we
volunteer our time and skills? For example, I am using my time, communication and leadership skills to
coordinate my Holiday Season Food Drive and as such I am enjoying the joy of giving. There are so many
things we can all give to others that are less fortunate than us.If you believe you don’t have enough to
give I would like to encourage you to try giving your time and skills and experience the joy of giving this
Holiday Season.
With my Holiday Season Food Drive I realise that once you start something with a good heart there are
so many people who are willing to help you succeed and achieve your goals. For example, last Saturday

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night my wife and I were special guest of GeofferySimm and the members of Trillium Toastmasters
Club’s party where they donated non-perishable food items. I also had the opportunity to deliver my
speech titled “Leaders Leave Legacy” and at the end of my presentation Judy Martin, Sales Analyst at
Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp offer to make a substantial contribution to my Holiday Season Food
Drive. She said it was a pleasure listening to my “Leaders Leave Legacy” speech and that she could hear
my passion for the project in my delivery.
The passion she heard was really the joy and sense of accomplishment I am getting from this project.
The support I have received is overwhelming and as such I am already planning to make the Holiday
Season Food Drive an annual event. This evening I will be guest speaker at Leaders’ Corner and Leaders
in Action Toastmasters Clubs at Family Services of Peel Employment Ontario. On Wednesday I am also
schedule to speak at Speak to Inspire in Brampton.
I am truly grateful for the support I have received the members of Toastmasters Clubs in the cities of
Brampton and Mississauga. I started this project to accomplish a personal goal but it is evolving into
something more because of the level of interest and support from members of the Toastmasters
community.
You too can enjoy the joy of giving.
Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well
as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor. He can be contacted by
email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog
http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter
@mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.