Most of us are altruistic. Sometimes selfishness gets in the way of doing the right thing in the right way at the right time. Every one must decide whether they will walk the walk when it comes to altruism.

Doing the right thing is never easy, even when it comes to doing the right thing at the right time in the right way. If you choose altruism over selfishness it should make your life easier. It is cold and lonely in the dark hole of selfishness.

MY PROUDEST LEGACY is my 5 beautiful grandchildren. The thing that makes me feel great pride is how altruistic they are to one another. Ditto for their parents.

I have twin sons, Cory and Jason, and twin grandsons, making me an expert on twins.

My 3 granddaughters could pass for triplets as they mirror one another in many ways except for ages. They understand that giving to one another is a gift to one’s self.

Isabella Rossellinni observed: “Before Darwin, our world was religious. People saw altruism as something given by God for us to be good so we could go to Paradise.”

I do not think for one second that my five little innocent grandchildren are looking for a backdoor into paradise. As a matter of fact, they are just good kids because they were raised by good parents.

DR. Stanley LIVERMAN delivered me and most of my 10 brothers and sisters into this world. One of his favorite expressions was “If you plant peas, you get peas.” I think those 5 kids are the way they are due to excellent parenting. I think they are “okay” kids because they

I think they are “okay” kids because they realize that they were called to a life of service. They want to help others. It is in their genes, right down to baby Adelaide Olivia, who may be a great doctor like her mother Jessica.

While religion gets a lot of credit for altruistic gifts, I say that genes are a more powerful influence on these children. They will never sacrifice too much because they will then have nothing left to give to others.

As they give, they receive. They choose to be a fountain to others and not a drain. These children cannot possibly know this from their limited exposure to religion.

A lot of evidence in evolutionary science shows that altruism and acting empathetically benefits generations to come.

My sons and their wonderful wives are raising terrific offspring and I do not doubt that they deserve 100% of the credit.

Genuine altruism combines both the head and the heart.

Michael Aun, CSP, CPAE is co-author of “Build a Better You, Starting Now!” Vol. 5.