DailyGood

For the last 27 years, DailyGood newsletters have offered a daily email that inspires you to respond to life with creativity and kindness. To join a community of 152,324 subscribers, subscribe here.

Feb 7, 2011

"What I call the depth of generosity is when people are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves." --Oscar Wilde

Generous Vegetable Seller

After the morning hustle, a lone lamp shines on a vegetable stall. With head bowed, Chen Shu-Chu is the first to arrive in the market and the last to leave. She earns marginal profits. Yet, her frugality has allowed her to donate NT$10 million (about 350,000 US $) towards various charitable causes, including schools, orphanages and poor children. The generosity of a woman with such a humble income has placed her under international spotlight, named an outstanding philanthropist by Forbes and among 2010's top 100 most influential people by Time Magazine. Despite all the attention, she reminds us, "I have done nothing extraordinary. Everyone who wants to can do it. There are many other charitable people; we just don't know about them." Chen adds, "I don't place great importance on money. When I donate to help others, I feel at peace, I'm happy, and I can sleep well at night."