Giver or Receiver
Once again, we have reached the time of the year that encourages giving. Presents, cards, trinkets, cookies and all sorts of fun items are made or purchased to exchange with those we hold near and dear. Giving makes us feel good inside most of the time. When it doesn’t, it is due to the feeling of requirement or resentment attached. Humans don’t like to be the only one who didn’t show up with an adequate gift for tribute. The best gifts are those that will actually be meaningful when received. That is difficult to do in all cases, so there are always general choices available that everyone would appreciate. But I know some teachers who would rather get cash than another bottle of cologne.
Give to Receive
Exchanging expected gifts can sometimes result in objects that become the recycled gift for another occasion. But that doesn’t diminish the fact that someone went to some sort of trouble to actually get something to share. Those are definitely the ones that fit into the category of generic choices. Even these sorts of gifts have the ability to help us practice how to be generous. Thinking of someone else, even minimally, provides the chance to reach outside of ourselves to another. Regardless of the gift, the act results in “giving” without selfishness. Of course, the really good feelings happen when you settle on something that will give the receiver the deeply held feeling that they are appreciated.
Keep what you Give away
There is a counter intuitive side to giving and receiving. It is possible that we receive in order to give. It is also possible to give to understand receiving. They are siblings but not twins. One of the most difficult things for a human to execute well is the ability to genuinely say thank you. Humans should be much better at this since we tend to say these words a lot. The repetition may have dulled the meaning behind the words. Let’s take this year to practice really putting some emphasis on thanking someone by using some alternate and specific descriptions, even if they sound funny. This will also give us practice in accepting compliments. Humans are woefully poor acceptors of complimentary phrases. Usually, we diminish ourselves and the object by claiming it wasn’t much. But it probably at least met a low benchmark of much.
Receiver Thought
Let’s work on keeping the statement “It’s the thought that counts” in our brains at all times. That simple saying that we use to explain why a gift was not what was expected, fits a 24/7 need to explain a lot. When any gift is received, we get a boost in feel good feelings. Sometimes we don’t even understand why we were gifted. Sometimes we didn’t expect a gift. Whatever the circumstances, there is a gift to be thankful for. Instead of trying to figure out how to reciprocate, get thankful. Seeing a human who is genuinely thankful increases our sense of gratitude as well as theirs. Generosity can be slippery if you try to hold onto it too tightly. The universe wants you to give and receive with grace. Those actions teach humans how to keep what we give away.
How can you give today? Can you receive a gift or a compliment easily? What gift would really please you?
