It's Fun to be a Giver - Give with Love!

Click herAs Christmas approaches, I can feel uncomfortable about its commercial nature and l a little stingy and scrooge like when I don’t feel like hoping on the frantic commercial Christmas train.
However when I accept this feeling of discomfort and tune into my wise self I am reminded ..

• I can get into the whole fun of Christmas and giving without the stress of a shopping frenzy. It’s all about how I hold my mind.
• It’s great to have the opportunity to be generous and to give to others. Giving feels great. Christmas and other occasions provide opportunities to do so. We can give in all sorts of ways, including commercial gifts, making and doing things and giving the most precious gift, our time.   
• It’s great to receive as well and this gives others the joy of giving too.
• When we put love into our giving, as Mother Teressa suggests, we are able to think about the person and what would be just right for them and have fun finding, making or doing something as a gift. 

A fun giving idea I was introduced to when I was working in an OT department of twelve.was ‘smonsering’ (aka doing kind things for each other in secret). We had fun ‘smonsering’ the week before the Christmas holiday break.
 
The idea was that we each drew a name out of a hat.  The person you drew became your ‘smonser’ and for the next week you would have fun doing something kind for that person in secret each day.  Desks were decorated, cups of tea made, edible treats and thoughtful gifts specific to the person were all given in secret. It was such fun doing and watching others sneak around doing these fun, kind, creative things for others in secret.  

I am thankful to be introduced to such a great idea. I am reminded though it does not need to be restricted to Christmas or to workplaces. It could be done in families or shared houses, where there are lots of opportunities to do kind things for others. Now that my husband and I are empty nesters it’s a little trickier to do this in secret. However, last Father’s Day I did a spot of ‘smonsering’ in honour of him being a father. I made him a yummy lunch and his favourite dessert. I’m not sure he noticed that I was having fun secretly ‘smonsering’. 

Giving does not need to be restricted to occasions like Christmas and Birthdays it’s fun to be a giver anytime. 

With love and my very best wishes to us all 
Maree xx