I love kids. And lately I've been having a lot of baby dreams and spent a whole week with Maria's new son, Press. Who is about the cutest little nephew I could ask for -- of course, Corey's sons are also cute nephews.
Anyway, today's gift goes to my niece Alaina. Sometimes I wish I lived a lot closer to home so I could see her more often. When she came to visit me last summer we got started on trying to make funny band names. She and I discovered we have a lot of the same tastes -- we love cupcakes, think the same things are funny and generally love on each other a ton. We ended up proclaiming ourselves the "Frankensteins of Awesomeness" because she said we seem to share a brain. : )
So, I saw a cute little holiday shirt while I was out shopping and immediately thought of her. I didn't want to wait to give it to her next week when I'm home so I dropped it in the mail today. Gift #3.
I'm finding that this process is helping me. I'm not saying I'm over my sadness over the break up or the other challenges life has handed me recently. But giving to others does have a way of lightening up my spirit. Some days are better than others, but I think in general I'm moving in the right direction.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Day 2 -- getting into the giving groove
I thought I had a plan for a gift today and then I went downstairs to head out to an assignment and I ran into one of my two friends who sits at the front desk.
I found out that Val's birthday was yesterday. Lately, Val has been a huge support to me as I navigate my heartbreak. She helped out with the Angel Tree giving and just generally makes me smile when I walk through the door.
So after getting a little pointed with some questions at a press conference, I made a stop at the flower shop down the street. I found a great little bouquet with roses and Christmas pine cones and evergreen. It was really great to bring Val some flowers as she is usually the one calling everyone else when these deliveries come for others. The smile on her face was all I needed.
It felt so good. And aside from being crazy busy and writing three stories today, I think I've overall had a better day. May try to hit the gym on the way home ....
I found out that Val's birthday was yesterday. Lately, Val has been a huge support to me as I navigate my heartbreak. She helped out with the Angel Tree giving and just generally makes me smile when I walk through the door.
So after getting a little pointed with some questions at a press conference, I made a stop at the flower shop down the street. I found a great little bouquet with roses and Christmas pine cones and evergreen. It was really great to bring Val some flowers as she is usually the one calling everyone else when these deliveries come for others. The smile on her face was all I needed.
It felt so good. And aside from being crazy busy and writing three stories today, I think I've overall had a better day. May try to hit the gym on the way home ....
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Hidden gems
Healing isn't a fast process. I wish it could be.
But one thing is for sure, a baby can put a smile on my face like no one else. Spending a week with Maria and Press in New Orleans was just the break I needed. The baby loved on me unconditionally. Maria needed my help. And it was great to be needed.
Sadness is still a common emotion but I'm doing everything I can to work through it.
I've found a couple ways to do that I think.
First, I'm going to start training for a new marathon. This time I'm going to run with TEAM in Training and raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. I'm aiming for the San Diego marathon on June 6. Anyone want to donate, let me know and I'll tell you how. I have to raise $2,900.
Second, I'm going to try something out of a book I just read called "29 Gifts: How a month of giving can change your life." The idea is that if you give freely, with intent, that you will be open to the riches around you. I consider myself a pretty open and giving person most of the time, but I don't think I make a real conscious effort to give every day. This book has inspired me to give it a try. The gifts don't have to be big or material even -- can be a phone call or a letter. Just given freely, without expectation and with intent.
So, I tried to start it today. I was at Michael's getting some crafting supplies for a couple of Christmas projects I need to finish. The lines were ridiculously long and of course, very few clerks. The lady behind me, laden with tacky glue and glitter, was getting huffy. She was not practicing being in the moment.
A clerk came up to an open register and motioned to me to come over and he would check me out. My gift for today was to let the huffy lady go first. I made a conscious choice that that could be a gift, even though I was pretty annoyed by all the waiting myself. Of course, being as huffy as she was, there was no thank you or anything. But that was ok. Because I actually felt really good about the gesture. Small gesture as it was. And I debated for awhile tonight on whether I should count that as my first gift. But I decided I should because this whole thing is not about the cost or the grandness of the gift, but the act of doing things for others.
So, I've started. Anyone want to join me and try it out? Want more information about the idea? Go to www.29gifts.org -- or grab the book at the nearest bookstore. It's out everywhere for the holidays.
Just keep me in mind and keep sending the good karma my way. The way I see it, if I can send some good karma out into the universe, some is bound to come back, right?
And I want to share this gem I picked up at an assignment tonight. I was at a memorial for children who have died and it was seriously sad -- just what I need. But I heard this quote while I was there and it meant a lot to me. So I share it with you.
"The world breaks us all. Afterward, some are stronger in the broken places." -- Hemingway.
But one thing is for sure, a baby can put a smile on my face like no one else. Spending a week with Maria and Press in New Orleans was just the break I needed. The baby loved on me unconditionally. Maria needed my help. And it was great to be needed.
Sadness is still a common emotion but I'm doing everything I can to work through it.
I've found a couple ways to do that I think.
First, I'm going to start training for a new marathon. This time I'm going to run with TEAM in Training and raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. I'm aiming for the San Diego marathon on June 6. Anyone want to donate, let me know and I'll tell you how. I have to raise $2,900.
Second, I'm going to try something out of a book I just read called "29 Gifts: How a month of giving can change your life." The idea is that if you give freely, with intent, that you will be open to the riches around you. I consider myself a pretty open and giving person most of the time, but I don't think I make a real conscious effort to give every day. This book has inspired me to give it a try. The gifts don't have to be big or material even -- can be a phone call or a letter. Just given freely, without expectation and with intent.
So, I tried to start it today. I was at Michael's getting some crafting supplies for a couple of Christmas projects I need to finish. The lines were ridiculously long and of course, very few clerks. The lady behind me, laden with tacky glue and glitter, was getting huffy. She was not practicing being in the moment.
A clerk came up to an open register and motioned to me to come over and he would check me out. My gift for today was to let the huffy lady go first. I made a conscious choice that that could be a gift, even though I was pretty annoyed by all the waiting myself. Of course, being as huffy as she was, there was no thank you or anything. But that was ok. Because I actually felt really good about the gesture. Small gesture as it was. And I debated for awhile tonight on whether I should count that as my first gift. But I decided I should because this whole thing is not about the cost or the grandness of the gift, but the act of doing things for others.
So, I've started. Anyone want to join me and try it out? Want more information about the idea? Go to www.29gifts.org -- or grab the book at the nearest bookstore. It's out everywhere for the holidays.
Just keep me in mind and keep sending the good karma my way. The way I see it, if I can send some good karma out into the universe, some is bound to come back, right?
And I want to share this gem I picked up at an assignment tonight. I was at a memorial for children who have died and it was seriously sad -- just what I need. But I heard this quote while I was there and it meant a lot to me. So I share it with you.
"The world breaks us all. Afterward, some are stronger in the broken places." -- Hemingway.
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