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!

How to Share Advocacy with Sam Daley-Harris Part 2 – How To Share

In this conversation, Sam Daley-Harris talks with Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson and unpacks how transformational advocacy fits alongside other forms of activism like protests, litigation, and voter mobilization—and why it can succeed even when Washington seems paralyzed by shutdowns and partisan conflict. Sam shares some concrete examples from global health and environmental advocacy, offer insight into how citizens are working to reverse damage and protect the most vulnerable, and—perhaps most importantly—explain how anyone can be effective, even with just five to fifteen minutes a day. If you’ve ever wondered whether your voice can really matter, this conversation offers both clarity and hope. And Sam offers to be a guide to help you connect to the issues that matter most for you. We love talking with Sam because he shares how to be effective and counter the effects of fear, cynicism and loneliness. We know you’ll love this conversation! Links for this episode:Transcript for How to Share Advocacy Part 2Sam's Sign-up Sheet for resources on how to get startedReclaiming Our Democracy websiteReclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen's Guide to Transformational Advocacy, 2024 Edition on Amazon
  1. How to Share Advocacy with Sam Daley-Harris Part 2
  2. What Do You Know To Be True?
  3. How to Share a Return Home with Mario Cartaya
  4. How to Share a Mission with Anthony Dyer
  5. How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner

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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