29 gifts, Round III, Week II

You learn things when you sign up to give away gifts every day for 29 days. And one of the things you learn is how to accept gifts graciously. This counts whether the gifts are physical manifestations or emotional support or prayers. In the energy of the 29 days, you also begin to take stock of the things that you do – maybe they are just ordinary things but they are also gifts. You have to shift your mind to understand that dropping off a trinket, sharing a meal, being there for a friend, even taking quiet time or speaking your truth even when your voice shakes is a gift. So it is in this energy that I wrapped up days 7 through 14. I participated in the Free Love One Dollar event, which is a memorial event for a Yorkville resident where you give away $1 bills randomly. I decorated 6 envelopes, but only ended up giving away one because I spent most of that day at an airplane crash covering a story. On Sunday night, I met a friend for support. As it turns out, I needed an ear to listen as much as she did. It’s funny how that ends up happening. Although I could not tell you an everyday breakdown for sure this last week, I know I did a lot of listening. On Tuesday, I listened to an acquaintance pitch a business she had just begun. I was upfront and honest that I would not be signing up (I am allergic to the produce, so I am probably not the best spokesperson), but I let her go through the whole thing. Maybe she needed to practice or maybe she needed to just share it with me because one day someone else will wonder about it and I can point them her way. I gave a lot of time this last week too. I rearranged my schedule for a couple things other people needed and again it ended up being a welcome respite for me as well. Finally, my dad’s birthday was Friday. I bought him a bunch of fruit. He has diabetes, so I try to find healthy alternatives for him. While I know too much fruit can also be bad, I know it’s a better option than cake and I know he really enjoys fruit. The concept of giving is sometimes a strange one – what constitutes as a genuine gift, whether physical or not, can change in every moment. I hope that everyday, even when I am not concentrating on giving, I am a giving person. This week, I plan to give away flowers at least one day this week. It is one of the things I have done every time I have done this project. Go buy a bouquet and leave flowers on cars in a parking lot. This time, I think I will chose a destination that needs a little sunshine. Stay tuned…