Larry the Cucumber & Bob the Tomato (Photo Credit: Veggietales.com)

As mother of a toddler, my car isn’t immune to the tyranny…er, delight, of children’s music. Laurie Berkner? Yep! Putumayo African Lullabies? On deck!

Last week, my daughter and I were bumping Veggie Tales, fun songs with a faith/moral message. While navigating L.A. streets with the mental reel of my to-do list, the Veggie Tales Cucumber and Tomato duo caught my attention:

If you see someone who’s hurt or in need/maybe it’s time to perform a good deed/
And when you finish you’ll find that it’s true/When you make them feel better you’ll feel better tooooo.

This little gem of wisdom really resonated with me. Have you ever handed out a meal and donated to a scholarship and immediately felt the’ feel goods’ of helping someone in need?

I sure have. Beyond the joy of spreading hope, happiness and possibly justice to an important cause, giving and generosity can benefit you personally. There are many rewards of giving; some of which include lower levels of stress and a happier marriage, and more increasingly, a boost to your bottom line.

Your business is not separate from the values you embrace personally which might include charity and service. So, how can you love your neighbors and give back in your business? Here are 3 tips:

• Adopt a charity and donate a portion of your revenue — This can be done regularly or during special times most beneficial for the charity.
• Incorporate social impact into the fabric of your business — Give Mother Earth a little love by committing to zero waste or brighten a child’s day with donating books or supplies.
• Give the gift that keeps on giving — Donate your time. Dedicate volunteer hours to a nonprofit that makes your heart sing. Encourage your employees to do the same and reward them when they do. Don’t have time? Look in to microvolunteering.

I encourage you to be a #Valentine year-round and spread the love.

Now that’s some great wisdom from a cucumber and tomato!