Take My Money, Please

The universe has many selfless people—people who drop everything and go out of their way to help others in need. Aruna Gobalan isn't one of them. But that changed during the year. Amidst the global pandemic of 2020, she felt a call to give back.


Aruna recognized she was one of the fortunate few to have weathered the pandemic reasonably unscathed. She and her family managed to stay healthy through the crisis, and she still had a job. She found herself feeling guilty, restless, and like she could be doing more to help. So, she turned to her mediation cushion in search of inner peace. As she contemplatively fidgeted away, guilt gave way to inspiration. She had an epiphany. 


She decided to embark on a 21-day secret giving project to seek out and personally thank unsung heroes in the community. Not usually one to approach strangers on the street and hand them money, Aruna took herself out of her comfort zone and into many a comical situation. She found herself tracking down postal workers, teachers, and sanitation workers to press money into their hands -- but more importantly, to make sure they knew how appreciated they were.


This book is a collection of twenty short essays, one for each day of giving. Woven with Aruna's personal cross-cultural experiences, memories, and observations -- some funny, some lighthearted, and all real and raw. Through these essays, Aruna hopes to entertain and inspire you to undertake similar projects of your own.