Do you know what are you giving?

With Christmas Holidays so close, you find everywhere the spirit of "giving". Spirit of giving makes you think on giving love, care, and also pretty gifts. Truth is, everybody is giving all the time. And not just on this season of the year, but every second of our life. However, few are aware what is that they are giving. That must change.

Two weeks ago it was the Teleton here in Mexico. The Teleton is a one day show to gather money to build and maintain operational rehabilitation centers for disabled and sick children. There is a Teleton each year and more than 40 rehabilitation centers have been built across the country. They all possess state-of-the-art technology that the poor families of those children could never afford otherwise.

My dwarves were arguing about the Teleton. It was a very hot argument. Their opinions were divided. Half believed in giving one peso to the Teleton. Half of them refused. They had read negative propaganda on the Internet about the Teleton being a fraud. The president's wife recently bought a 84  million pesos house and she claims she did it with money she earned working for Televisa. Televisa is the TV company that sponsors the Teleton. Absolutely no actor make that kind of money if not working for Hollywood and being famous. We all know it. People in Mexico is raging already. They are raging and hurt and they have ran out of patience. We all suffer because of the great insecurity, because of the drug war, because of the many who disappear to never be seen alive every other day. We suffer because of the frauds and corruption and theft from the government we hear about on daily basis. Some places are technically war zones. We live in fear.

As Yoda said, fear produces anger and anger produces hate. When you hate, you are no longer thinking right. Sometimes you do not care who hurt you but where to release your wrath and outrage. Any excuse will do. And then you make innocents pay for others' injustices.

This year, the lack of will to contribute to the Teleton was sadly evident. People wouldn't give because of what they read in social media. 99.9% of people never take the time to verify if what they read on Facebook, Twitter and dis"informative" sites is true or not. They just read it and immediately think on sharing it. It happens in Mexico, but it also happens everywhere else. "I tell you this because I heard it from the sister of the cousin of the father of a friend of mine and she saw it all." "I saw it on Facebook, so it have to be true."

I've been at those Centers of Rehabilitation. I've known children who have been blessed with their help. I know something good comes out of the Teleton, regardless who sponsors it. Social unhappiness almost made disabled innocent children pay for the government's and the drug dealers' crimes. I am not Christian. I'm Buddhist. And until not so long ago, the bitterness and hurt in my heart made me the dragon version of the Grinch. Yet, I would like to make you think about what you are giving to others, not just this season but always. Every action you do in your daily life, that's what you're giving to the world. 

This time of the year I see more angry rushed people stuck in traffic. More intolerant people arguing in the stores, more concerned about dinners, gifts and parties than about not fighting with their children or spouse. Give whatever gift you can purchase, if you are so inclined. But please, for this world's sake, consider the possibility of giving also your common sense, your good will, your patience, your tolerance. Don't give lies, don't share things you can't verify they're true, don't give gossip and unsettling words, don't speak ill of others, don't argue with your family over matters that are worthless in the long run.

Being RIGHT is overrated. It's far better being GOOD. Be good to your family, to your friends and to those who share this world with you. I'm not saying you go out and hug everyone, but if you give way to another car, if you smile to the those attending you, if you bite your tongue before saying something ill against another, you're already giving blessings to many.

Dragon and Dwarves wish you the most blessed of Christmas and a New Year full of chances to become the best version of yourself.