Happy Monday! Let’s do this! We all could use a bit of motivation to get rolling on Monday. On Mondays, I like to share a Mantra or short inspirational message. If the message resonates with you, use to motivate yourself in training or life. Do you have your own awesome Mantra? Please share it below in the comments.

Today’s Mantra:

“No one is useless in this world that lightens the burden of another” – Dickens

* This is a self promotional post, but for a great cause.

A few years ago I started a holiday charity called Merry Spinmas with my triathlon team. (STC Multisport) The mission of Merry Spinmas is to provide bikes for Christmas to deserving children in our community. We raise funds from the endurance racing community, and deliver the children a brand new bike, helmet, and lock.

This has been one of the most rewarding activities in my life. Every year I look forward to the program, even though it means a couple of months for really hard work, and lots of begging for money. I know a bike will most likely not dramatically change the life of these children, but it could be a step in a new direction.

When I was a child a loved my bike. It represented freedom to explore under my own power with my friends. Most days we would come home, throw our book bags inside, and head out on our bikes until it got dark. Not much has changed as an adult. I still love to explore on my bike under my own power with my riding buddies. Now it is more of an inner exploration, as I push to new distances and times, but the feeling is the same. I want to help provide that feeling to a child, who may not have that opportunity.

One of my favorite moments from doing this holiday drive involves a seven year boy named Tyreese. Tyreese requested a Disney’s Cars bike from our program. We found the perfect red Car’s bike in his size, but it had training wheels. When we delivered the bikes, Tyreese rode around for a few minutes slowly with his training wheels, then he shyly asked if we could take them off. Once the training wheels were off, he was shot out of a canon. Flying around the parking lot, a huge smile on his face. He fully embraced the feeling of freedom.

Enough about me. This post is about giving. It feels good to give. If you want to feel better in your life, go and do something for someone with no expectation of return. It doesn’t have to be money, it can be time or a favor, or just saying some kind words of encouragement.

If you really want to feel fulfilled, you have to give until is hurts. We do a great job of making it easy to give. Just text this number to donate, or do you have a couple of bucks to throw in the bucket? These are great ways to help quickly, but you aren’t really invested in the cause. You need some skin in the game. Go and set a big fundraising goal, or go and work with a cause you are passionate about. This is when you will feel the most engaged, make the largest impact, and feel great. It’s ok to feel good about yourself for doing great things for others.

Below is a great video with Tony Robbins that shows how one small act of kindness today, can lead to massive change in the future.

If you would like to read more about Merry Spinmas, or donate, for info can be found here.