My little red tether is my anchor in running with my friends. A beautiful guide dog has been my tether/anchor in mobility and independence for 17 years: 1. Pantera 2. Cricket, and now my beautiful 3. Georgina (Georgie). A life of family and friends is my joy and anchor in life.

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. CC Scott

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Seven Simple Gifts

Recently I received a very sweet email from a leader of a group I belong to stating:  My wish for each of you during this holiday season and in 2012 is that you enjoy every minute of every day, that you find peace, and when times get tough you find the grace and humor you need to make it through, stronger for the challenge.  Thank you T.S. for such a profound message. 

She also passed along Denise Bissonenette's Seven Simple Gifts:  Not easy to give, splendid to receive.  She states, "I ask you dear reader to assess for yourself, what it is like to be on the receiving end of these gifts.  Take a moment and consider what it felt like the last time you received the following:

1. Gift of Visibility.Someone making you feel seen and heard in a situation in which you felt invisible;
2. Gift of a heartfelt compliment. A heartfelt compliment that came from someone with no agenda;
3.  Gift of Thanks.Genuine thanks and appreciation for something you do every day;
4.  Gift of a sincere apology. A sincere apology that helped heal a hurt, heartache or misunderstanding;
5.   Gift of Forgiveness.  Forgiveness which freed you from the burdens of guilt, blame or shame;
6.  Gift of the Benefit of the Doubt.  The benefit of the doubt in a situation where you appreciated not being unfairly judged
   or criticized;
7.  Gift of Kindness.  A kindness from someone that touched you deeply.

She states, "it is my fondest hope that recollections of having received each of these gifts from someone at some time in our lives will inspire the giving of these same gifts with wholehearted, wideranging, no holds barrer generosity on our parts.  In the words of Sam Levinson, 'The tender loving care of fellow human beings will never become obsolete because people, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed.  We do this for one another through the gifts of the human spirit.'

1 comment:

Just Jess for now said...

Wow, what a fabulous thing to say. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas. :)