Why am I talking about gift-giving on January 1st? "Didn't the season of gift-giving just come to an end?", you may be asking. I'll answer that question with other questions. Why should there be a "season" of gift-giving? Why shouldn't gift-giving be an all year event?
What if each of us made a New Year's Resolution regarding giving? We could resolve to give gifts each month, each week, or even each day!
I can hear many of you saying, "I can't believe she is talking about this in these difficult economic times!" I'm sure many of you have just overloaded your credit cards and dipped a little too far into your savings to meet the holiday expectations of family and friends, as well as your own.
What if I told you that you could give a gift to almost everyone you meet, everyday without forcing yourself into bankruptcy? In fact, the seven greatest gifts you can give don't cost a thing- they're priceless!
HelpOthers.org is a web portal dedicated to encouraging small acts of kindness. They list the following as the seven greatest gifts a person can give:
- The Gift of Service- Give of yourself and your abilities. Rake a neighbor's yard, read to a child, wash dishes or clean for your housemate, etc.
- The Gift of Affection- Be generous with smiles, hugs, kisses, and/or pats on the back. Research shows that touch is critical to our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
- The Gift of Laughter- Brighten a person's day by making them laugh. Loan a funny movie to a friend who is down...better yet, invite that friend over to watch it with you. Clip funny cartoons from your paper and leave them where others will find them. Share funny stories.
- The Gift of a Written Note- Write a thank you note. It doesn't have to be for an official material gift. It can be in appreciation for someone who has done something kind for you: someone who's helped you when you really needed it; a former teacher who influenced your life; grandparents or parents who positively impacted your life; a friend for being there for you through hardships; or a life partner, family member or friend for being in your life.
- The Gift of a Compliment- Written notes are wonderful, but sometimes a face-to-face offering of gratitude is more appropriate such as: "You look great today."; "That was a wonderful meal."; or "Thanks for doing that. It made my life a little less hectic."
- The Gift of Listening- Often I think we should be called human-doings instead of human-beings. We are so caught up in our own lives, our own ideas, or "fixing things" that we don't take the time to listen. Truly listening to a person with no interrupting, no daydreaming, no responding, can be a great gift.
- The Gift of Solitude- Our lives are often frantic with most of our actions being re-actions. To be at peace and to act with purpose, we must connect with our true self. Spending some time in silence and helping others spend some time in silence allows us to quiet our minds, reflect, grow and transform ourselves and our world.
Happy New Year!
Photo of "gift" used courtesy of Kasia at http://flickr.com/photos/mysza
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