(Day 1) 29-Day Giving Challenge - A place for sharing.

[AhBee01]

I gifted my Mom and her best friend a few cabbage rolls I made for dinner, plus asked them to join me for dinner, so they could eat theirs another day!

 

[jojo54]

Camelot Farms and WriterofWords - that must have been very hard to hand over the keys with no fuss or hassle for both of you. That was a biggy!

Damummis - thanks for the recipe! the pic looks yummy!

I know my DH will love them.

Also you are giving the gift of order and tidiness. Do you have your own maple trees? They are so beautiful plus you get to make syrup too!

WriterofWords - I agree with Camelot Farms that it was more than the gift of distraction! Gift of dignity - yes plus the gift of caring for others as a whole group and individually at the same time. The others surely appreciated you helping the individual not do something she was sorry for afterwards. Also the secret gift of coffee is nice. That way the person can pass it on instead of just returning it to you.

rainplace - Doing something the is giving when you don't feel like talking is hard. You are still giving by doing these things without speaking to people when you don't feel like it!

weaveagarden - Hi back at you.

Keep in touch when you can. We'll think about you in the meantime.

debiraymond - that is not at all selfish to want your camera back. The gift of friendship is an important one to take the time for as well.

bantimna - glad to hear all is going better for you. Have a great week ahead.

AhBee01 - cabbage rolls - yum!

that was nice to do. Even nicer for them to be able to eat some and take some home.

I have been busy moving furniture and cleaning carpets. I guess its the gift of spring cleaning.

We are trying to get alot of things done before my DH goes back to work. I did clean up some litter at the grocery store today when I went to pick up my chicken produce. Every day my chickens are getting the gift of fresh greens which they love and I'm giving the gift of less trash at the dump.

 

[Damummis]

Jojo, YOU ROCK!!!!

 

[WriterofWords]

Yesterday I gave my son me for the whole day.

 

[feathersnuggles]

All -
I'm having a hard hard hard time.

First, I feel like my giving is becoming contrived in a way, like "I have to give something in the next 24, so what's it gonna be this time?" Second, I feel bizarre to talk about what I DO give. Some days I just don't interact with people outside my family much, and the encounters are mundane, not something to write about. When I give of myself, like replying when people have chicken problems, I really don't like saying that I gave anything 'cuz truth is, I'm usually more concerned about their birds than about the people.

Today, I tried to smile and connect with a cashier, who was busy, but who briefly smiled back at me. Seeee? isn't that mundane?

What else? I gave my hens lots of attention today. They don't count so much because they're easy for me to love. I pruned one of my plum trees. I hope giving to a tree counts.

Jojo, thanks for all the sweet acknowledgements you give!

 

[WriterofWords]

I gave my frozen apricots to a student at lunch. I love those darn things too.

Feathersnuggles, it's hard to talk about things you do for others because we've been trained our whole lives that it is inappropriate to toot our own horn. That isn't what we are doing though, I think we are showing others how easy and how simple it is to be kind to others. When you smiled at that cashier it may be the only one she got all day. I used to cashier and I got used to unhappy people so when someone smiled at me it was great. I was raised to do for others not myself, so it's easier I guess. But it's even struck me as things I do every day so I'm trying to come up with something different to make sharing mean something more to me.

 

[jojo54]

I'm giving you all the gift of a short movie to watch.

A friend emailed me the link and it is a true story.

It brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat.

This is real giving!

Amazing girls!

I hope you take the time to watch it!
http://www.responsibilityproject.com/films/player/the-home-run/

WriterofWords - I bet your son was pleased with your gift of self!

Also the student must have really enjoyed the apricots.

I agree with trying to do different things to stretch our comfort zones if we are able to and to find new ways to give that maybe we haven't tried before.

Damummis & feathersnuggles - thanks for your kind words.

I just kind of got the feeling that acknowledgement of all the giving was needed and decided to appoint myself the "giving" cheerleader.

We aren't giving for the acknowledgement but I'm trying to help people realize that you can give and DO give often without thought.

The hardest part is telling about what we have done and accepting that we are actually giving even if it seems minor to us.

We aren't tallying points for the most "giving person" but I think we're trying to help turn the world into a more giving place.

feathersnuggles - I know exactly how you feel. I was having trouble and started stressing about having to give daily and I wasn't out in public much, (I've been painting, baking and spring cleaning lately) I was also having trouble finding things to write about because I was taught "you don't blow your own horn or pat yourself on the back" because you were bragging and being conceited.

I read what everyone else wrote and decided that I had to write about what I did because that was the "assignment" as such and there was no one else here from BYC to record the giving. So I try to write something daily. I may not write about every smile I gave people, etc but I try to think in terms of having a giving day.

Even if I only go to the store for my chicken produce (which I do everyday), I try to be the givingest I can - I smile, wave, etc. plus I am loving and giving to my chickens (as you said you are) and my family. Your chickens do count, because it doesn't matter how is easy it is for you to love them - think about how awful their lives could have been if you weren't their mom. I know I spoil my chickens something awful but they are going to have the best life I can give them.

I shudder to think of the horrible lives of some chickens that I can't do anything about.

I think you are doing great because you are giving whether people, animals or plants (yes, I do think we can give to nature) so relax and enjoy your goodness.

Pat yourself on the back and hugs from us.

 

[Damummis]

Feathersnuggles-
I totally know how you feel. I thought I was the only one. I feel real guilty discussing what I have given. I expect my mother to give me a huge lecture about being a braggart and drawing attention to myself. How I was trying to make myself important when all I was doing was making everyone else feel rotten because they didn't do what I did. She has a real knack at making me feerl like a drowning worm in a puddle after the rain has cleansed the earth.

Writer- You always know what to say to make me feel better. Thanks.

JoJo- Rock On!!!! You make me smile every post. Do you have any hobbies????

Rainplace- How are you today? I had my first hatch yesterday. Way amazing. Do you sell duck eggs? I would love to have a Rainplace flock on this island too.

AhBee- You mentioned Cabbage Rolls???? Isn't one of the rules - If you mention food you have to post the recipe????

Deb & Weavegarden- HI!!! How are you darlings????

 

[rancher hicks]

It is nice to see that people are thinking about this. Sometimes when I 'm having a bad day a smile from a stranger can change that.

Instead of saying "have a nice one" , I say have a nice DAY. When people say have a nice one, I always walk away wondering what it is I'm suppose to have that's nice.

Simply changing your greeting habit of "How are you?" to "It's nice to see you" can make a big difference. It eliminates the need to think of "how they really are" to feeling that I am really glad to see them. Of course I am because now we're together.

I personally like this site because it's seems most people really care and want to help each other. One time someone posted that I was always trying to offend people, though I really am not. I do get frustrated w/ some, sometimes, but I was glad that this poster had even paid attention to anything I said and knew who I was. At least they didn't tell me to shut up, like my mother used to do.

 

[rainplace]

In an hour I will know for sure what our status is. I'm hoping the knowing will stop the obsessing and I can get back to this!

I have been giving little bits. There's a thread in the duck forums about a sick duck. I really don't like getting involved because I've never had a sick duck before. I have, however, read a lot about ducks and health and have a wealth of information stored on my computer and in books. This time I shared what I had with a kid who doesn't get any support from his parents concerning his duck. I don't think I helped much, but I think he appreciated the attempt.

feathersnuggles I know what you're talking about when you wrote, "First, I feel like my giving is becoming contrived in a way, like "I have to give something in the next 24, so what's it gonna be this time?" It feels like that for me also. I'm wondering though if it's like that for a while, but then it just becomes a habit to give? A habit to see opportunities to give. I don't know. I'm struggling through this challenge!

Damummis, I may be able to send out a test batch of duck eggs to you. I have know idea who is laying them, but they are fertile. They have to be coming from my runners though because of the size. Just not sure which color runner is laying them! The runner drakes are all black, but I do know the runner hens have sometimes been amorous with black east indies.

Time for me to get in the shower and get ready for the meeting. Be back later with some news.