Week of Oct. 25 - Nov. 1, 2008

By Dr. Larry Hashimoto
President 2008-09
Redondo Beach Rotary Club

(REDONDO BEACH, Calif.) Today, I would like to share a passage that I read from a book that I picked up while shopping with Stacy. It's titled "Simple Truths", by Kent Nerburn. This section of the book pertained to giving and it reminded me of what Rotary is all about.

"If you perform these simple acts, little by little you will start to understand the miracle of giving. You will begin to see the unprotected human heart and the honest smiles of human happiness. You will start to feel what is common among us, not what separates and differentiates us. Before long you will discover that you have the power to create joy and happiness by your simplest gestures of caring and compassion. You will see that you have the power to unlock the goodness of other people's hearts by sharing the goodness in yours. And, most of all, you will find the other givers. No matter where you live or where you travel, whether you speak their language or know their names, you will know them by their small acts, and they will recognize you by yours. You will become part of the community of humanity that trusts and shares and dares to reveal the softness of its heart. Once you become a giver, you will never be alone."

Let's all continue to be "givers", and I want to thank each and every one of you for being a Rotarian. -- Larry