Day 20: Some simple "thank yous"

[Chris]

Wow...  On my first false-start with this cycle, I made it two days, then went about three days before even realizing that I was forgetting my gifts.  Then I started again and had trouble finding things to give.  Then I pondered the small gifts...  how small is "too small to count?"  So by just sticking to it and seeing it through, and with your feedback, I have really changed my thinking over the past few weeks.  I remember a couple of times at 10:00 at night, I would think, "I never found a gift today!"  I would have wild thoughts about driving out and finding a homeless person to throw money to.  Instead, I would think back and find something I did that day with a positive attitude that could "count," or I would find something I could do around the house. 

Fast forward a few days...  Now, I find that I am missing opportunities left and right!  I received a food delivery last night and the bill was more than I thought it would be (the delivery charge wasn't listed online).  I didn't have enough cash to tip as much as I normally would.  I asked the delivery guy to wait a minute.  I ran back up to the apartment and got him a few more dollars to take the tip from 10% back up to 20%.  It was just a difference of $3.00, which I gave in change.  It was one of my gifts for the day, but when I saw that I didn't have it in cash, I wish I had just grabbed the $10 bill that I had and told him that it was my gift for the day.  I think it would have left him puzzled, but appreciative.  He already appreciated the fact that I went back up to the apt. to get a few more dollars, but that could have made his night.  Three weeks ago, I would have been patting myself on the back for NOT just giving him the money that I'd planned to give.  I would have had some thoughts like, "Well... they should have listed the delivery charge online!"  Now, I'm thinking about how I could have made someone's day, and could have been even more pleased about my gift opportunity. 

 

Now, here we go with today:

 

Day 20 (Monday) - Yesterday I blogged about emailing the pastor of a church I visited yesterday.  She sent me back a short message from her Blackberry.  It made me feel good about that gift, so I decided to give another thank you.  I recently visited a clinic and met with a doctor there for the first time.  I pulled out his business card and sent a short email to thank you for making my first visit a pleasant one with his demeanor, attention, and genuine concerns.  I feel good about these thank yous, as gifts, because they cost no money, barely any time and energy, and I'm sure that the person is not expecting a thank you for the service he provided.

 

Tomorrow's gift will be pruning rose bushes..

 

 

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Love your gifts Chris! So nice to have you with us...

[Michele wwt]

Wonderful gifts of gratitude! :)