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Philosophy
Develop
Yourself
“When I was young and free
and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser,
I discovered the world would not change,
So I shortened my sights somewhat
And decided to change only my country.
But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years,
in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family,
Those closest to me, but alas,
They would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed,
I suddenly realized…...
If only I had changed myself first,
then, by example
I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement,
I would then have been able to better my country.
And, who knows,
I may have even changed the world.”
Anonymous
Well, ok …… we
don’t need to change the world to make a meaningful
contribution. Although in some areas it may be a worthwhile
objective!!!! But no matter how small, any contribution is
certainly worthwhile.
With our busy lives, financial pressures, family commitments
we often wonder where we can find those few extra moments to
commit to causes that we know are so worthwhile. Rotary
clubs, Lions clubs and a plethora of charities confront us
for assistance and contribution almost every day. These all
do spectacular jobs, and the commitment shown by the people
involved is extraordinary. When we give to these
organizations, we like to be assured that our money is going
directly to those for which it is being raised, and hope
that the minimum amount goes in administration to get it
there.
However, with the ability to be able to travel the world, we
often see circumstances that we do not normally see in our
own neighborhood at home.
The
philosophy of The Land of Smiles Foundation is to be able to
contribute directly 100 percent of the money to those in
need. In Thailand and other areas of Southeast Asia, it is
possible to provide first-class medical care, dental care,
or meaningful education at a fraction of the cost that we
experience in western countries.
As an example, to be able
to provide something like orthodontic braces in Thailand
costs around about US$700. This compares to a figure of
US$5,000 or more in America. A new wheelchair can be
provided for about US$115. First class medical care or
surgery can be provided at an internationally acclaimed
hospital, also at a fraction of the cost of similar
procedures elsewhere in the western world.
To find out more about The Land of Smiles Foundation, go to:
www.landofsmilesfoundation.org
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