How To Share Our Luck

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“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali

I’m fascinated by the origin stories of how people start big things. I love hearing how people have done fantastic things just by following a thread that often starts in such an incidental or accidental way.

My guest on this week’s How to Share podcast, Gil Gillenwater, has a great origin story. In 1987, he and his brother, Troy, went on a Thanksgiving-inspired road trip to deliver food to a town in Mexico. They took a wrong turn and ended up in Agua Prieta, a town right on the US-Mexican border and were stunned by the living conditions and abandoned children.

Gil started a non-profit called Rancho Feliz that has served the Agua Prieta and surrounding communities in these ways:

  • Awarded 3,700 scholarships
  • Issued 6,854 graduation certificates for adults
  • Built 1,220 houses
  • Distributed 64,000 bags of food
  • Donated tons of medical supplies
  • Constructed orphanages, education centers, childcare centers, and volunteer centers

And more than that, Gil and his mission have also enriched the lives of the people who have come to volunteer. Rancho Felix has coordinated 27,462 volunteer visits. Gil documents these accomplishments and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border in his beautiful book, Hope on the Border.

Gil tells us why me-first culture isn’t working and how enlightened self-interest provides a path out of spiritual poverty. He shares why he doesn’t like the word “charity” for either giver or receiver. Instead Gil hails the 28,000 volunteers that work with Racho Feliz as guardian warriors.

We talk about education as the ultimate tool in the border crisis and how providing that can change lives. And we talk about how the ability to see ourselves in others proves to be a life changing gift.

This is an incredible conversation with an amazing guardian warrior that shows us enthusiasm and purpose that transcends borders. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

  • When’s the last time you heard good news about the US-Mexico border?
  • The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.
  • Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
  • Creating opportunities in one’s home country can reduce migration.
  • Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.
  • Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
  • Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.
  • Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.
  • The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.

Here’s a short clip of Gil describing enlightened self-interest as an antidote to our me first, greed is good culture:

Here are some ways you can watch this compelling and inspiring episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

This is the last podcast of 2025! Thank you to all you amazing listeners/watchers/readers who have been so interested in and supportive of all these amazing guests sharing their interesting stories about learning, writing, and growing in this one wild and precious life! Stay tuned for more great episodes in 2026! I appreciate you!

The Life of Try: Alex Honnold Case Study – The Life of Try

This episode features host Wynne Leon with a brand-new segment that “reverse engineers” what world-class trying really looks like. Our case study: professional climber Alex Honnold, whose headline-making feats—from free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite to scaling Taipei 101 this January—offer a masterclass in what it takes to attempt the extraordinary.We’ll break down the real ingredients behind self-improvement, personal growth and big outcomes: preparation, learning from others, and staying steady through setbacks—and how those same principles apply to the goals of re-invention we’re chasing every day. Whether you’re gearing up to speak in public, throw a pitch, or learn a new song, you can borrow these lessons and put them to work in your own try-cycle.This is The Life of Try—the podcast where innovation, reinvention, personal growth, and discovery begin with one simple choice: to try. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when you’d rather not. Even when life makes the decision for you.Links for this episode:Wynne's blog: https://wynneleon.comFree Solo: A National Geographic documentaryAlex Honnold Free Solo Climbs Tapei 101 Skyscraper
  1. The Life of Try: Alex Honnold Case Study
  2. How to Share a Reimagined Sci-Fi Trilogy with Dr. Wayne Runde
  3. How to Share Advocacy with Sam Daley-Harris Part 2
  4. What Do You Know To Be True?
  5. How to Share a Return Home with Mario Cartaya

Links for this episode:

Hope on the Border on Amazon

Gil’s organization: Rancho Feliz

Gil Gillenwater on Facebook

My book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠

(featured photo from Pexels)

(feature quote from Enlightened Mind 622 – The Rent You Pay)

43 thoughts on “How To Share Our Luck”

  1. Gil is a good man. As he mentions briefly in the clip, income disparity is a major problem in this country. The data supports how much difference there is between people at the top and the bottom. One of the most necessary action we can take is feeding the poor.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. I love this topic, and bless Gil for all that he do. I’m intrigued of his book, and I’m amazed of all the he has done. Experiencing poverty first hand can change perspective indeed and education change lives for the better in most cases.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. I love the work he is doing, it’s vital. Education is important for breaking the poverty cycle, for then people can find or create meaningful employment and opportunities for themselves and families. Kudos to the guardian warriors!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Gil sounds like he’s one of those people who are trying desperately to bring balance to an unbalanced world. Service to others lifts not only the assisted up, but those lending their hand as well.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Hooray that there are people like Gil (and you) in the world – kindness matters, as does focused, dedicated efforts – here’s to many more boundaries being transcended in 2026!!

    (And in case I don’t get time to circle back before the end of the year – Happy Holidays my friend, you be showered in the blessings you so deserve! Linda ❤️🎄💚)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love this comment, Linda. You captured so much of the spirit of kindness that truly makes a difference!

      And thanks for the holiday wishes, Linda! Sending you great wishes for a fantastic holiday and wonderful 2026, Dr. Linda!!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Great conversation, Wynne and Gill. I love the JFK quote, when the Harbour rises, all boats rise.

    This was such a timely episode that captures the true essence of the holidays: being in service of our fellow man and recognizing that we are all interconnected in life.

    I wholeheartedly agree that education is a great way out of poverty. Like the saying, teach the man how to fish, rather than giving them fish. I think advanced societies get this, whereas it seems some governments, ackem, are dismantling education and access to information. And you have to wonder why!

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  19. Love this Wynne! The Girl Scout motto is leave the space you occupied better than when you arrived. I think about that as I age. How am I improving the world I occupy? What an inspiring guest. Thank you for sharing his story. Hugs, C

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