Gift 6 - March 23, 2011

Again today didn't really feel out of the norm for me in regards to giving.  Perhaps I need to put it out there more clearly to the universe my deep desire to give.  Maybe I'm not being open enough to opportunities.  I love doing things for my friends, but today's gift is something I would have mindfully done anyway, even if I wasn't doing this challenge. 

To be honest I want to give outside my comfort zone.  Money to a homeless person.  Something I've not done before.  Perhaps I can talk Lobster into going dowtown tomorrow night so that I can seek out this gift and truly give consciously. 

I think for me part of this challenge is to not only be mindful of the giving that I do but to also do it in a way that is new for me, in a way that lets me stretch my legs...and my mind...and my heart.  Giving of any kind is always wonderful and it does bring joy, but to do it in a way that perhaps you normally wouldn't is, in my mind, even better, for it affords us more opportunity to grow.
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This morning my friend M mentioned that she wanted to go out for lunch today.  When she brought it up, I knew this would be my gift for the day.  Buying her lunch is a small price to pay for the wonderful friendship she gives to me each day.  We share some much of our lives with each other, and I tell that woman almost everything.  She is an amazing mother, and a very hard worker.  She inspires me just being around her.  Not to mention her amazing sense of humor. 

Today I give with love, gratitude, and joy!

Gift 4 - March 21, 2011

I've know Ms. L for a long time.  If ever I've met someone who has had a crap hand dealt to them it would be her and yet she remains amazing!  The woman has the best quick whitted humor of anyone I know.  I wish she could see what a beautiful woman she is.  The funny, amazing, keep going person I see.  I love her to death.  Friday I knew what today's gift would be.  I left the house early so that I could stop and get her a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Because man does that woman deserve some flowers.
A bonus, all her co-workers continued to ask her who they were from. . . she didn't le on.  Love it.
I hope that giving her those flowers put a smile on her face and warmed her heart.  I hope it let her know just how great I think she is.

Today I give with love.

Day 1 - March 18, 2011

Today was my last day at my current job.  Not a big deal, I'm staying with the same company, in the same department, but stepping down.  About 6-8 months ago, I started feeling like I needed to make a change, be doing something that was less stressful, so that I could focus on school and of course my son.  I thought about it a lot, for months actually.  Finally a few weeks ago, I took the leap.  I'm very excited about this new chapter in my life and honestly excited about having less stress. 

As I was sitting at my desk this morning, I was thinking about my boss.  She has been instrumental in my growth in my character and knowledge.  She has been a mentor to me from the moment I came into her department.  We've had our rough days, but I think she is amazing in many ways, and I wanted to thank her for all of it.  So I thought "I'm going to write Mrs. J. a letter telling her how much I appreciate her and all she has done for me.  This will be my gift for today."

I'm a big fan of writing letters to people.  It's the easiest way for me to express myself.  It felt so good to tell her all those things I wanted to say, to let her know just how great I think she is.

29 Gifts...

About a week ago, I started reading a book called 29 Gifts, How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life.  Cami Walker is diagnosed with MS and her spiritual advisor gives her an unusual prescription. 

“Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.  Healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum, but through our interactions with other people.  By giving, you are focusing on what you have to offer others, inviting more abundance into your life.  Giving of any kind is taking positive action that begins the process of change.  It will shift your energy for life” ~ Mbali Creazzo

So the idea is that each day you MINDFULLY give a gift someone.  The purpose here is intent.  Here are some instructions.

1. Begin each day with an affirmation statement such as:
1. Today I give with love
2. Today I give with gratitude
3. Today I give with patience.

2. Your gifts can be anything offered to anyone.  Anything you mindfully (consciously) offer to another person counts.

3. You can give the gifts quietly or make them know.

Watch out for gives that are coming from the following places within yourself because you will likely feel drained when giving from this space:

1. The Bartering Give:  If I give, I am good and I will be rewarded.
2. The Obligated Give:  I have to give because it’s expected of me.
3. The Guilty Give:  If I don’t give I will have bad karma
4. The Begrudging Give:  He’s got new shoes on, he can’t need money that badly.
5. The Resentful Give:  I suppose I better give because it’s Day 15, even though I just spend $300 on new brakes for my car.

I think you get the idea.  You see someone has a need and you try to help fill it.  You can also plan gifts if you wish, such as “Next Friday I’m going to take my son to see that movie he wants to, that will be my gift for today.”  These gifts need not be extravagant, it can be a hug, a few words, lunch with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time.  Just be mindful of the gift, give with the intention of giving, quickly or out loud.

If you’re interesting in learning more you can visit the website at http://www.29gifts.org/.

There are great gifting ideas, forums, a blog, and the story of 29 gifts.  It’s a powerful idea, one that I intend to fully embrace.  Each day I will blog about the day’s gift.  I hope that you will look into it, join me in gifting, as well as read my stories, and share your own. 

Today I give with love, gratitude, patience, abundance, and joy.  I am open to receiving awareness of opportunities of giving and I am open to receiving gifts as well.