Round 2: Days 4-7: Staying late, Iced Coffee, Call to my friend, and Fiery Tulips

Round two has been a lot of fun so far! Giving has just become easier in general - almost second nature to me now. My task this month is to make sure not to take it for granted, not to do it out of obligation, and to be completely present while giving my my gifts.

What I'm learning as a result of my giving challenges:

1) Giving feels gooood! :)
2) I need to be just as gracious and open about receiving as I am about giving.
3) I deserve love, joy, peace, friendship, good health, and all the blessings of a wonderful life. (Every single one of us deserves this!)
4) It's okay to lean on people - to ask for help, to not feel like I have to do everything on my own. My life is made easier by following this one in particular!
5) When I can't decide on a gift, my presence, focus, and attention are the best gifts I could ever give.

On Friday, one of my employers - the mom of O and M - was running late getting home. H (the mom) is always so kind, thoughtful, and open with me, and I've been meaning to devote one of my gifts to her. When she called to say she was about to get on the subway to come home, I told her not to rush, to relax, and that I was more than happy to stay the extra time until she got back. When she finally did get back, I was in the middle of playing Mario Kart with the boys on the Wii (I've become obsessed with this game!), and I decided to keep playing with them for a little while longer, so she could get dinner ready. H was definitely grateful for this, and I was just happy to be able to give her the gift of time and a second hand to help with the kids.

For the next ten Saturdays, I'll be taking a scene-study class in Manhattan, which I absolutely love so far. I decided to devote gift #5 to my scene partner, who I was about to rehearse my scene with. I decided to treat him to his favorite drink at Starbucks, and once he gave me his order, I traveled over to the nearest store, where I promptly purchased an iced coffee, light on ice, with a dash of skim milk and three Splendas. :)

On Sunday, I gave a call to my friend, who I had given a call to a little while back as a gift. We've been playing phone tag, and I was "it", so I called and left her a message to say I loved her and hoped everything was going well in California. It felt really nice to give a simple, quick gift, and she returned my call the next day.

Yesterday, I picked up O and M from school and told them we were going to pick out flowers for their mom. We went to the local grocery store and perused the flower bouquets, until we found some beautiful red and yellow splattered tulips - perfect for the "warm" winter weather we were having in Brooklyn. When we got home, I arranged them in a vase, and we made a card for mom and dad that read "Happy 4 Weeks Till Spring!". Needless to say, H loved the gift.

I was given a beautiful gift last night as well - by my mom. I was upset after my work shift over another work situation I was having problems with, and my mom was amazingly patient as I vented to her about everything. She helped me to not only figure out a solution to my problem, but her comfort and encouragement brought so much peace to my heart, in the midst of a difficult situation. I am truly thankful for my mom and her gift of a sympathetic ear. She showed me that we really do need to lean on people in times of trouble, and it is not weak or wrong to do this, but rather strengthening. We need each other.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Celebrate and soak up this beautiful day! Keep a smile on your face, and know you are immensely loved.