On a particularly difficult day for me last month, a friend gave me a book that he knew would lift my spirits. It was a collection of quotes and drawings that contained simple wisdom for living a life of peaceful presence (I’ve mentioned the work of Francois Lange at Sketches in Stillness on the blog before – I remain a huge fan).
Having experienced that thoughtfulness and kindness myself, I was reminded of how offering up a gift is a powerful act for both the receiver AND the giver.
While we can likely all recall an instance of being touched by another’s kindness, the research supports the notion that being generous is good for us as well.
To be clear, the spirit of generosity does not require spending a lot of money and many can be done with minimal effort (aside from the time taken to pick something thoughtful and deliberate). Often the best gifts are truly simple:
- An unhurried phone call (or even a text exchange)
- A homemade batch of cookies or a meal
- Planning a walk or a drive together
- Printing and/or framing a quote with a supportive message
- Re-purposing something you already own that you know would be meaningful to another person
Beyond the pleasure of seeing the recipient’s joy, giving gifts can remind you that no matter how else you are compromised, you still have worth and value that can contribute to the well-being of other people And that is a priceless gift to yourself.
