One of my students and her sisters have been sexually abused by a minister. It seems difficult for them to have justice served- to prove that this happened. This man seems able to follow them etc and to get to the point I gave them money when they were forced to move in the middle of the night to avoid him. Parents work minimum wage, they don’t have a car, and there are 4 girls and 1 boy in the family. English is not their first language. It felt right to support them financially.
I live in Montecito where our community has been devastated by fire, flood and horrendous mudslides. So very many people have lost loved ones and lost their homes. My husband and I were spared the worst, and so when we have donated to help others, there were no strings attached and no expectations. On the contrary, we were and are overwhelmed with grief, but also relief, humility and gratitude — we still have each other and we still have our home.
The other week. It felt like the right thing to do. It felt good to put it simply. Why would I have chosen not to? That would have felt small and petty.
As others said for the Jan 18th question, I give away silent prayers. It feels hopeful. Well, I suppose there is a string attached to my heart at the time of offering. But then there is a release and the prayer flies free, like thistledown in the wind.
Truly it is difficult to give without expecting anything in return. I am running my mind through some times I did this, but my brain keeps doing a flip of reality on me... I ended up expecting something in return. I think it is just human nature to have two way gift giving. To rise above our human nature is often difficult. So... let me 'think again' regarding a time I gave without expecting anything in return. Bingo... Thought of something! I had an intern who was in a wheelchair. He was not ju...
Truly it is difficult to give without expecting anything in return. I am running my mind through some times I did this, but my brain keeps doing a flip of reality on me… I ended up expecting something in return. I think it is just human nature to have two way gift giving. To rise above our human nature is often difficult. So… let me ‘think again’ regarding a time I gave without expecting anything in return. Bingo… Thought of something! I had an intern who was in a wheelchair. He was not just temporarily in a wheelchair. He was permanently in a wheelchair. He never had any hope of getting out of that wheelchair. I admired him greatly because he never complained and always found a way to get around an obstacle, literally and figuratively. He did everything I asked him to do and never shied away from any duty even though he could have used his handicap as a reason. I helped him go to the principal to discuss a concern ‘we’ had for worst case scenario. IF they brought the drug dog to the classroom, how exactly were we to handle that because he was medically required to carry his meds with him because his legs would get spasms he could not control unless the med was readily available. That was all worked out with the principal. He was grateful. That made me feel good and I was not getting anything out of it. Later at Christmas, the district gave us a bonus. It was around $400. I gave him cash money because he was a co-teacher for that semester and deserved that bonus just as much as I did. He took the money and I never expected anything from him. Giving that to him also made me feel good because I had helped someone.
My response to the Daily Question on January 18 basically works here too, which was, “Whenever I give something away, give of myself or make a gift in some way, I expect nothing in return. Expecting otherwise means it wasn’t a gift at all.” As for how it feels: it feels like “right action” was taken, period.
I try to give as much as possible with no strings attached and it feels uplifting.
An example might be taking a walk on the beach and picking up as much garbage as I can. Making a commitment to helping the environment each moment by being more aware of why I buy or do not chose to buy something.
With close family it is frequent enough for me and is motivated by love and it therefore feels loving. Outside of family it is pretty infrequent although I guess if you help someone that’s a gift of your time and assistance and if that’s covered in the question then the answer is two days ago and it gave some meaning to my day. Oh and I gave some company to a neighbouring cat yesterday: a cat is someone.
listening to someone. giving someone a hug, they don’t have to hug back, I usually just get an awkward pat on the back
It is liberating, and so rewarding to give and never expect anything in return.
One of my students and her sisters have been sexually abused by a minister. It seems difficult for them to have justice served- to prove that this happened. This man seems able to follow them etc and to get to the point I gave them money when they were forced to move in the middle of the night to avoid him. Parents work minimum wage, they don’t have a car, and there are 4 girls and 1 boy in the family. English is not their first language. It felt right to support them financially.
Dear Kathleen, thank you, I am so grateful you were there to help this very vulnerable family.
A gift is an object symbolizing a connection between people and sometimes that gift reveals how little we might know one another.
I live in Montecito where our community has been devastated by fire, flood and horrendous mudslides. So very many people have lost loved ones and lost their homes. My husband and I were spared the worst, and so when we have donated to help others, there were no strings attached and no expectations. On the contrary, we were and are overwhelmed with grief, but also relief, humility and gratitude — we still have each other and we still have our home.
The other week. It felt like the right thing to do. It felt good to put it simply. Why would I have chosen not to? That would have felt small and petty.
It felt liberating and joyful to be giving without some precondition or expectation. And, that experience is rare.
As others said for the Jan 18th question, I give away silent prayers. It feels hopeful. Well, I suppose there is a string attached to my heart at the time of offering. But then there is a release and the prayer flies free, like thistledown in the wind.
Thank you for your touching way of being, dear grateful sea.
Dear Ose, thank you for your lovely smile and for your kind affirmation.
Truly it is difficult to give without expecting anything in return. I am running my mind through some times I did this, but my brain keeps doing a flip of reality on me... I ended up expecting something in return. I think it is just human nature to have two way gift giving. To rise above our human nature is often difficult. So... let me 'think again' regarding a time I gave without expecting anything in return. Bingo... Thought of something! I had an intern who was in a wheelchair. He was not ju...
Truly it is difficult to give without expecting anything in return. I am running my mind through some times I did this, but my brain keeps doing a flip of reality on me… I ended up expecting something in return. I think it is just human nature to have two way gift giving. To rise above our human nature is often difficult. So… let me ‘think again’ regarding a time I gave without expecting anything in return. Bingo… Thought of something! I had an intern who was in a wheelchair. He was not just temporarily in a wheelchair. He was permanently in a wheelchair. He never had any hope of getting out of that wheelchair. I admired him greatly because he never complained and always found a way to get around an obstacle, literally and figuratively. He did everything I asked him to do and never shied away from any duty even though he could have used his handicap as a reason. I helped him go to the principal to discuss a concern ‘we’ had for worst case scenario. IF they brought the drug dog to the classroom, how exactly were we to handle that because he was medically required to carry his meds with him because his legs would get spasms he could not control unless the med was readily available. That was all worked out with the principal. He was grateful. That made me feel good and I was not getting anything out of it. Later at Christmas, the district gave us a bonus. It was around $400. I gave him cash money because he was a co-teacher for that semester and deserved that bonus just as much as I did. He took the money and I never expected anything from him. Giving that to him also made me feel good because I had helped someone.
This is wonderful to read of, Rhonda, thank you for sharing it.
See january 18
My response to the Daily Question on January 18 basically works here too, which was, “Whenever I give something away, give of myself or make a gift in some way, I expect nothing in return. Expecting otherwise means it wasn’t a gift at all.” As for how it feels: it feels like “right action” was taken, period.
I try to give as much as possible with no strings attached and it feels uplifting.
An example might be taking a walk on the beach and picking up as much garbage as I can. Making a commitment to helping the environment each moment by being more aware of why I buy or do not chose to buy something.
With close family it is frequent enough for me and is motivated by love and it therefore feels loving. Outside of family it is pretty infrequent although I guess if you help someone that’s a gift of your time and assistance and if that’s covered in the question then the answer is two days ago and it gave some meaning to my day. Oh and I gave some company to a neighbouring cat yesterday: a cat is someone.
This is delightful!
Cats are definitely someone! Ask any of them.
Heart this! Good post.
My Private Gratitude Journal
Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal
Get Started