October 24, 2013
Alexia Isaak
I absolutely love Yogi Tea. Not only is the their tea organic and yummy, but they also put inspiring mantras on the tag of each tea bag. I just pulled out a tea bag with a statement
that applies directly to this post I've had in my heart to write. It says, " Your greatness is measured by your gifts, not your possessions."
This is one of those lessons we all seem to know, but may have a hard time internalizing and putting into action. Maybe it was the yoga practice or maybe it was a spurt in my emotional maturity, but this recently made a lot of sense to me as a genuine sentiment from the core of my heart and soul.
You may know well of my story of perseverance and overcoming. I think for a long time after that I knew I lived for a reason, but I also felt entitled to whatever I desired because something bad had happened to me. It's taken a long time for me to overcome the emotional trauma of my surgery in conjunction with simply growing up after college. So, I'm in a triangle posture in a yoga practice, and it hits me, "My purpose for living is to give!" Then I think, "Duh, of course it is, but what am I giving?"
The Secret and its lessons in gratitude and generosity flash through my mind. Andy Stanley preaching a life philosophy of give, save, live also emerges. Then, came my more recent commitment to self to practice the give, save, live approach to life. I talk about making new choices; so, I decided to make an adjustment to how I live by giving first.
This started with the obvious; I started giving money to charities of choice. Then I realized I give my time with each blog post I write. I give time to friends and family to help out. I give through writing and volunteering and investing in my health for the people around me. I see the many ways I am constantly in a position to give, and give from my heart.
Then, I realized the blessings in generosity I experienced in my life since I started making a new choice to give first. In fact, since I started giving, it has become easier to give with a heart of love. And, I've noticed how many wonderful things I've been receiving, too. I'm not giving to manipulate to receive, but receiving has been a beautiful by-product of giving. The receiving has also given me the opportunity to practice receiving.
This whirlwind of my eyes opening to the beauty of giving happened within a few moments, and I've felt more enriched and encouraged to stay on this path of living to give. I hope you choose to live today to give because you can!