With Purpose Success, part 11

Colin Powell once said. Let's praise anybody who lifts a finger or donates a dime, because small deeds and small amounts matter. As it turns out, the very rich are not even the most generous. Giving does increase with income-up to a point. But one study found that households with an annual income of $100,000 to $200,000 gave less proportionately than those with an income of $50,000 or less.
I'll look more closely at the ripple effect of giving in chapter 8, where you'll learn about the modern pay-it-forward movement and meet an extraordinary family that lost one of its own in the Columbine High School shooting. This family now travels the world teaching students about the beauty and art of chain reaction kindness through a program known as
Rachel's Challenge. So when I talk about moving from success to signifi-
Average Annual Donationas a Percent of Total Income
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0
Under $20,000- $30,000- $50,000- $75,000- Over
$20,000 $29,999 $49,999 $74,999 $100,000 $100,000
Source: 2000 Social Capital Community Benchmark Surveycance I'm talking to everyone. I'm talking to you. Being significant isn't only about moving mountains; it can also be about moving handfuls of dirt. Anyone can do it. To quote Mother Teresa: "We realize that what we are accomplishing is a drop in the ocean. But if this drop were not in the ocean, it would be missed."
Purpose in Your Daily Routine
There is probably nothing more important to your daily well-being as having a sense of purpose about everything you do. It's an attitude, and you can adopt it-and find it in the simplest routines. This may sound trite. But I assure you that it is possible to contribute something to the world and feel better about yourself through the most basic everyday acts.
For example, you can:
Eat with purpose. I'm not kidding. You can make a difference simply by thinking about the food you put in your mouth. At a recent high school commencement, the actor Sam Waterston implored graduates to go out into the world and put their mark on it. But even if you have not yet discovered your special gifts, he told them, just be smart about what you eat. Waterston, a longtime activist for preserving the oceans, told the kids they could make a difference that would be felt around the globe simply by avoiding seafood that is overharvested-like certain halibut and cod, shark and chilean sea bass. Stick with farmed mussels, clams, oysters, and char, and mackerel and striped bass, which are more abundant. Farmed salmon may be cheaper than wild Alaskan salmon, but the farming takes a far greater toll on the environment because of pollutants and the great amount of wild fish that farmed salmon are fed.
Eating responsibly, Waterston said, can literally save the oceans. How's that for purpose in a daily routine? For a pocket guide on ocean-friendly dining, go to www.blueocean.org or www.oceana.org. And don't stop at the shoreline. Why not get smart about everything you consume? Go to www.erasemyfootprint.com to learn how you can offset all of your carbon-producing activities.