As in giving up.
As in 'What are you giving up for Lent?'
This is a question that plagues me every year, and now that it's the night before Ash Wednesday, it's officially crunch time.
I sometimes have difficulty in understanding the whole giving something up for lent. I get the whole need to sacrifice during this time and making our lives a little uncomfortable, but what if we flipped the whole idea? What if instead of giving something up, we chose to do one good deed (more if you're so inclined) a day? What if you chose to make the world, at least your little corner of it, better by simply giving instead of giving up?
I like to think that Jesus would approve.
Perhaps, for Lent, you try something new and give one thing up and give one thing away.
You could give a smile.
You could give advice.
You could give a much needed hug.
You could give the gift of time.
You could give thanks.
I know the past few months I have zeroed in on my faults and lack, and honestly, I'm ready to turn that around. I'd like to turn my focus on others and see how I can help make their lives better. I know karma has a beautiful way of giving back to me when this is done, so I am going to go for it. For the next 40+ days, I am going to find a way to make someone's life better every single day. I'd love to say that I'll blog about it every day, but you know me better than that. I will try to as much as possible, but every and day are two words that haunt me.
They are words that procrastination laughs at.
So what am I giving up? Well, that's a bit more challenging for me. I'm leaning towards candy and snacking in between meals, but who knows. I'll wake up tomorrow and know what it will be. I know that a good night of sleep will lead me in the right direction of what I need right now.
"Once there was a tree.
And she loved a little boy."
I wish you all a wonderful Ash Wednesday, and may you find more ways to give during this time.
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Fake it till you make it
No, it's not inappropriate Thursday. I don't mean faking it... unless, of course, you need to.
It's one of those sayings I've always kinda ignored and would be annoyed when people did use this cliche. I mean, really, why should we have to fake anything? But still, I am not bouncing back from last week (wahmbulance anyone?) and this Christmas is not waiting for me to catch up. Once again, I need to pull out the big girl panties and paint a smile on my face. Eventually I will catch up and that's all that matters.
What I am noticing though, is that the more I start off pretending to be happy and 'tis the season', the more I am carried away by that feeling. They say that the mere act of smiling is not only contagious, but can actually change your mood the more you do it. By smiling, you can lighten someone else's day, and that in turn will lighten your own.
I really do believe that giving is far more gratifying than receiving, and sometimes the best thing you can give is free.
It may be priceless to the person receiving it, and you never know what someone else is going through, so sometimes a little kindness is the perfect gift that just keeps on giving.
It's one of those sayings I've always kinda ignored and would be annoyed when people did use this cliche. I mean, really, why should we have to fake anything? But still, I am not bouncing back from last week (wahmbulance anyone?) and this Christmas is not waiting for me to catch up. Once again, I need to pull out the big girl panties and paint a smile on my face. Eventually I will catch up and that's all that matters.
What I am noticing though, is that the more I start off pretending to be happy and 'tis the season', the more I am carried away by that feeling. They say that the mere act of smiling is not only contagious, but can actually change your mood the more you do it. By smiling, you can lighten someone else's day, and that in turn will lighten your own.
I really do believe that giving is far more gratifying than receiving, and sometimes the best thing you can give is free.
It may be priceless to the person receiving it, and you never know what someone else is going through, so sometimes a little kindness is the perfect gift that just keeps on giving.
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