“The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.”

— Walt Whitman

I admit that I probably don’t do it as much as I should, but I love the idea of doing or giving something to someone else without the expectation of return. I like to kick the saying “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Okay, perhaps I am a bit selfish — I do receive when I give. It is usually comes in the form of gratitude, respect, good karma, or even as simple as a smile.

I just had something cool happen to me. The other day I met a girl in the hotel I’m staying at who said her friend was looking for the book Into The Wild, by Jon Krakauer. I happen to pick up the book in Tulum and happened to have just finished it. Great read by the way. She just happened to tell her friend, her friend just happened to tell me, I just happened to have it, and I just happened to finish it!?! Weird.

Needless to say she was excited!

“I have nothing to trade you for it.” She said.
“Oh no, don’t even mention it. It’s a gift.” I replied, to a big smile.

Today the book karma gods smiled handsomely back at me. I found two GREAT used books at the bookstore today: Post Office by Charles Brukowski, and Motorcycle Diaries, by Che Guevara.

So do you give? Have a story to share?