The Year Christmas Changed Forever

The gift of giving

When I was a child Christmas was a time for making long lists of what we wanted and waiting to see what was under the tree. Back then, there was no greater thrill than having a mountain of presents to open and relish for the weeks and months to come. That all changed the year I discovered that the joy of Christmas isn’t in what you get.

It is in giving that we receive.

Francis of Assisi

At the top of my cousin’s list that Christmas was a stereo. Since I was just a teenager at the time, I did not have the money to buy her a new one. Still, I love music and knew how much having a way to play her favorite tunes would mean to her. I checked with her parents and found out that Santa wasn’t going to be bringing the big gift at the top of her list that year.

Fortuitously, I was at a friend’s house when he was about to throw out his old stereo because the speakers didn’t work anymore. Boom! I heard the knock of the opportunity elves at my door. I checked the turntable. It worked fine. So, I bought a new needle and rebuilt the speakers. All told, the project took me about a month and cost around $30. A modest price for such an excellent gift.

When Christmas came, I gave the stereo to my cousin. It’s impossible to put into words how happy she was. I hadn’t seen such overwhelming joy expressed by one person in my entire life. It was as if she’d won the lottery. Her happiness made me teary-eyed, too. When I thought about how my resourcefulness and skills had transformed something that would’ve ended up in the trash into a spectacular gift of immeasurable value, it was amazing! The joy that she felt was contagious. I would never have believed the outpouring of happiness I felt if I hadn’t experienced it myself. On that Christmas day, I learned a valuable life lesson, It isn’t what you get that is important, it’s what you give.

Giving is an expression of gratitude for our blessings.

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Giving doesn’t need to be limited to holidays and birthdays. We can give in so many ways and at any time. So long as your gift is presented without the expectation of getting something in return, it has immeasurable value for not only the receiver but for yourself as well. When you give with the expectation of reciprocation that is a transaction, not a real gift. In order to increase the value of your gift, present it unconditionally. Here are some ways to make giving a part of your life, and in turn create a greater sense of value inside of yourself as well.

No Reason

You don’t need a reason to be kind to others whether they are friends or strangers. Little things that make others’ days happier, safer or more fulfilled could have a profound impact. It just takes a little effort to do a random act of kindness. You could buy coffee for the person in line behind you, give a blanket to someone who is cold, or alert someone to a danger avoiding something catastrophic. All it takes to provide kindness is the desire to make the world a better place and to take action on that desire.

When things aren’t going well for me, I often think about what I can do for others. This charity builds on my humility and gratitude for being able to make a difference in the life of someone else. There is no better way to brighten a day than with unexpected kindness, given or received.

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

Maya Angelou

Don’t Give It a Second Thought

Whether you give money to charity, donate to your favorite podcast, internet radio station, or a Kickstarter campaign you can make a difference in the lives of others. This is also true of giving your time. For example participating in a mentorship program, volunteering at your local soup kitchen or teaching English as a second language on your day off. Giving — no matter what it is- creates a feeling of happiness in both the giver and the receiver. A study by Park, S., Kahnt, T., Dogan, A. et al. authenticates this. In their study, the researchers found that giving stimulates the parts of the brain that make you feel happier.

When you make giving a habitual part of your life you’re creating abundance. You’re sharing universal love and also clearing the way for more prosperity to enter your life. This act of benevolence demonstrates what’s possible with a little imagination and consideration for the world around you. Others will see your example, and some will seek to emulate it.

The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live.

Ethel Percy Andrus

Keep Count

What are you contributing to make the world a better place? You could document it as a way to remember and fill your spirit with joy every time you recall your acts of kindness. On a regular basis, consider what you have contributed to the world around you and then write it down. By realizing your contributions to society, you will enhance your sense of value to the world, and also to yourself. Increasing your sense of value will decrease your feelings of hopelessness and help you to grasp that you are making the world a better place. Only you can give from your unique perspective. We all would benefit from an outpouring of the gifts you have inside of you.

Documenting your giving helps you to recognize the kind-hearted person that you are and the value you give to those around you. Giving of yourself is the greatest gift you can give.

The more one forgets himself — by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love — the more human he is.

Viktor E. Frankl

Unexpected Benefits

One thing that is becoming clearer as we live through the coronavirus pandemic and help each other is that we get much more by giving than by taking. For example, ordering delivery meals helps the local restaurant to stay in business, as does give larger than usual tips to service providers. We can all make a positive difference in the lives of others if we just look for ways to contribute.

When we focus only on what we can get, our perception of what’s possible is very limited. If we see the world just in terms of what benefits us, then we give just enough to satisfy our sense of duty or personal gratification. However, if we focus on the value we are infusing through our gifts, then the pocket we pull from is virtually unlimited. There are so many options for what we can give and how we can positively impact the world that we will never run out of resources if we are creative in our giving solutions.

This abundant sense of contribution will provide the opportunity to make an impact regardless of your financial situation. You can give your skills, your time, or items you no longer use or have need of. The more you give from your heart, the more you spread a feeling of benevolence, goodwill and prosperity.

Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.

Mother Teresa

Summary

Giving is the ultimate gift. When we give we’re doing more than making a contribution that aids others. We are enriching our own souls too. The act of gifting our time, service and/or money to help others allows us to make enriching contributions. Helping others to achieve success or find moments of pure joy are the greatest gifts we can give.

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