JOIN THE GIFT REVOLUTION

Dear Friends:

This year numerous churches, businesses, families and individuals have joined the "Gift Revolution".

What does that mean and how does it differ from typical holiday giving? Let me try to explain . .

The Gift Revolution is not about purchasing a one-time gift--it is all about developing a habit or a lifestyle of giving. Addiction specialists know it takes 28 days to change behavior or to break a bad habit. The Gift Revolution calls for a month of developing a good habit--that of a giving lifestyle based on the concept of paying it forward.

Several years ago a movie came out entitled "Pay it Forward". In the film a young boy was faced with a challenging school assignment. He was asked to develop an idea with the potential to change the world. His idea was to start a "Random Acts of Kindness" revolution using the same mathematical formula sales moguls have applied for years. The premise went like this: If the boy did three random acts for three total strangers and each stranger did three acts for three others and so on, the impact would be tremendous.

The Gift Revolution calls for participants to develop a lifestyle of giving that requires simple acts of kindness (or giving)--once a day throughout the month of December.When a participant does an act of giving they encourage the recipient to follow suit.

This movement was launched by a network of like-minded people who came together in a collaborative effort to create a movement which is quickly gaining support all across the world.

To participate is simple: Just visit the official Gift Reveolution website at www.thegiftrevolution.com. Once there, you can order some gift cards to hand out as you go about doing good deeds and distributing gifts. Remember, your gift does not have to be costly. You can give service or time. Be creative. As you commit some random acts of giving, distribute your gift cards to those who receive your efforts, then post your videos and stories online at the Gift Revolution website. This way, the impact of this revolution can be measured and shared around the globe.

One story currently posted on the website is an account of two ladies whose husbands are deployed who decided to go to Taco Bell for dinner and were amazed when the cashier told them the previous customer had paid for their meals. Another story is from a 20-year-old in Jacksonville, NC who said she makes gift baskets each Christmas to distribute at a nearby Veteran's Hospital.

There are plenty of ways you can join this year's Gift Revolution just by doing some small kind act for someone else while expecting nothing in return. Remember, it taks about a month to change behavior for better or for worse. If you start today perhaps the act of giving will carry with you throughout the New Year as well.