Lucky 20 pounds

Last Saturday, taking a coffee break from work, I happened upon a 20 pound note on the ground on my way to Caffe Nero. For me, it was yet another sign from the universe that London continues to be city where good things happen. I actually felt a little guilty picking up the note. And when the woman walking in front of me turned around, I actually extended the note towards her thinking that she might have been the one to have dropped it. But she didn't acknowledge it, so I tucked the 20 pound note in a separate compartment in my wallet to make sure I wouldn't spend it. I wanted to keep it for the next time I returned to London.

Since my return to Hong Kong, I've told a few people about my lucky find. Most just politely indulged me in my silliness. Afterall, it's just 20 pounds (US$40 or HK$312); what's the big deal? One person actually said, "If 20 pounds is your definition of good luck, then you don't have very high expectations." This got me thinking about what 20 pounds can fetch:
Starbucks -- 10 of my usual coffee drinks (that's nearly a week's supply!)
iTunes -- a season of one of my favourite TV show (around 16.5 hours of entertainment, depending on the show) or 40 songs
Blackstone Group -- 1 share of the private equity firm's stock at Friday's close of US$27.75

But then, just before yoga class, LP reminded me: "Why don't you donate it?". I don't really believe in donations like the flag day, Community Chest, telethon type. But I thought it was the perfect idea to make a investment in luck -- pass on good fortune that would spin more good fortune to more people. Sounds like chain mail, but hopefully a bit more useful. But the universe had sent me luck and instead of hoarding it, I should deploy it in a more intelligent way. So, with US$40, I can fund:
Microloan through Kiva -- A US$25 loan to one business. Currently, they are limiting loan size/business to US$25, so the balance of US$15 would be unallocated.
Mann Deshi Business School for Rural Women -- 16 women in India can attend a 10-day business fundamentals course to help them better manage their own businesses that are funded by microloans
Livestock for sustainable living through Heifer International -- 2 flocks of ducks to families in China, who will then pass on the first offspring from their flock to other families

In the end, I opted for Heifer, because it was listening to Bill Clinton talk about this organization's work ("the gift that keeps on giving") that led me to a bit of a lightbulb morning last month. So somewhere out there, two families will be receiving ducks soon. Too bad I can't specify that they be the cute Hyde Park ducks.