I have updated and added a new section to this previous post. Be sure to check out the section on How to Get Started and a new section on Donor-Assisted Funds. I have come across this relatively new way to donate that makes life and giving all the easier. Go GSD. Avid readers of this blog and website will know that I am a big fan of and regular donor to Room to Read. I have written quite a bit about the huge accomplishments of co-founders, Erin Ganju, John Wood and Dinesh Shrestha. And there will be more to come…

To feel young and alive, no matter what our age, we need some energy and passion. Sometimes we need some tears or experiences that make the hairs stand up on our skin. Shivers. Good music can do this. I get a warm rush whenever I listen to Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea or the Led Zeppelin classics. My daughter makes fun of me when I get tearful watching the incredible musical Les Miserables, even though I have seen it many times. And for even more excitement, I have tickets to see it again in a few months in Toronto. I'm sure…

I thought it was about time to refresh. AWarmHeart.ca was feeling a little too sentimental to me. It needed a more serious look. What do you think? SERIOUS BUSINESS As some faithful readers may know, I write a lot about one of my favourite charities, Room to Read. This organization continues to impress me with their incredible work. It is serious work that helps million of children, from low income countries, go to school, learn to read and have a chance at a real future. FREE EBOOK I will be writing more about my favourite charities, as well as ideas…

Generosity is a core principle for Seth Godin. And it shines through in his creative life and 21 best-selling books. I liked his approach so much that I updated this post, on top of the other posts I have wriiten about Seth Godin. I wanted to remind you all of his relentless talents. Since this post, he has written another new books, that has been getting rave reviews. The Song of Significance is a manifesto about the power of teams and collaborative work. In this link, Seth offers several videos and interviews about his book, his work and his approach…

Would you like to add years to your life, years of quality living? Most of us would. There are several ways to do this. Exercise, diet and stress reduction are common strategies, for people of any age, but they are not the only ones. Research has shown that you may be able to add 7.5 years to your life by changing how you see yourself in the world. This has been explained by Yale University professor, Dr. Becca Levy, in her new book, Breaking the Age Code (2022). These research findings are not about general positive thinking. They are centered…

There must be a simpler way. A simpler way to help you support others with your hard earned money. (Don't miss two amazing facts below). But it is not easy. Just ask anyone at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. There, teams of very smart people spend countless hours trying to decide which charities to fund. Fortunately, this video below can help you a lot - and take some of the torture out of trying to decide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zoFEH_9wFE DOING GOOD BETTER, WITH A FREE SOFTCOVER BOOK If you found this video enticing, you can get your own book for Free.…

I just went to see the movie Air, starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. I loved it. It is a story of how Nike was able to grow their basketball division by signing Michael Jordan and creating the Air Jordan shoe. But more than that, it is an inside look at the early days of Nike and what made them such a great company. This movie also highlights some of Nike's early business and marketing principles. These principles seem to champion doers over pretenders and results over bureaucracy. This philosophy really hit home with me. Check out this list from…

Have you ever been surprised by the lyrics of a song you thought you knew? This happened to me the other day. I was helping a friend of mine, Hania Azimi, work on a script for a new video she is creating. Her next video will be about how our own uniqueness can be a real source of strength for us - even when we are afraid of how different we are, compared to our peers. Then suddenly, I remembered one of my favourite songs, Superwoman, by one of my favourite artists, Alicia Keys. I thought Hania might like the…

By now, I hope everyone has heard about Malala Yousafzai and how she is changing the world. Her story is truly a remarkable one. In October 2014, Malala, along with Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, was named a Nobel Peace Prize winner. At age 17, she became the youngest person to receive this prize. Here is her story in her own words. 1997 I was born in Mingora, Pakistan on July 12, 1997. Welcoming a baby girl is not always cause for celebration in Pakistan — but my father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was determined to give me every opportunity a boy…

I still have fond memories of listening to David Crosby and the iconic Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young band. In my early university days, I loved  to lie on the floor, put on my headphones, and listen to the album Déjà Vu. The guitar rhythms and intricate melodies would soak into my brain as I drifted in and out have my afternoon nap. The world of music will miss David Crosby. He passed away on January 18, 2023 at the age of 81. He lived a life full of contradictions, recoveries, collaborations and an unwavering devotion to music. He was…