29 Gifts

Cami Walker got me into this. She came on the Today show with her glowing smile and her great big eyes. She talked about her book 29 Gifts and how giving changed her life.

My 29 days started last Sunday, but I haven't wanted to mention it here--it seems self serving to talk about your giving. But sharing the idea helps it grow, and so here you have it.

Cami Walker has MS and she was struggling. A healer suggested she give a gift a day for 29 days. She ignored the advice for a while but eventually decided to give it a whirl. It changed her life. Among many other things, she has written a best selling book and inspired a movement. She inspired me.

The gift can be practically anything--Cami's gift one day was a Kleenex. The trick is, the gift must be from the heart and it must be given with intention.

Years ago, Sarah Ban Breathnach and Simple Abundance saved my sanity. Sarah introduced me to the Gratitude Journal during a time when I desperately needed to be looking for the light rather than wallowing in the darkness.

Then, I spent each day watching for things I could write in my journal that night. Some days I had to look pretty hard, but it kept my focus on what was good in my life. Every day. Five things. Gratitude.

29 Gifts leads me through each day looking for opportunities to give something real. Not always monetarily valuable, but real. From my heart. I save up ideas from one day to the next. I look around for the need. My focus turns to what I have to give.

Turns out that the greatest gift is attention. Oh, the vehicle may be soup and rolls, but the real gift was recognizing my friends' grief at the death of their dog. Forgiving a small debt surely relieved the recipient, but the real gift was saying, "I see how hard you're trying." Five pounds of meatballs is more than several dinners--it's a message that I know your favorites and I'm willing to invest the time to make something you love.

Try it. Check out Cami's book and her story. Give what you've got and you will have more. I promise.