by Kathy Ruff
I’ve been told I have a gift, a gifted eye for photographs and another to match words with those pictures.
For me, these gifts are my passion, a way to share my love of nature with others so they may share in and enjoy that love. I don’t have to wrap those gifts at all…I simply allow them to flow effortlessly from my heart to the page.
That’s what life is all about…sharing the love we have, inside and out, so others may feel that love, too.
It’s been said when you share a material gift, the more your share, the smaller the gift. Think of an apple pie. The slices are a little bit smaller if you share it with eight people than if you share it with six. However, if you share a spiritual gift, the gift grows exponentially.
Have you ever seen the movie, “Pay it Forward”? If not, I highly recommend you take a couple hours to watch it. The Cliff notes are that when you have a ‘gift’ given to you, you share your blessings by giving a ‘gift’ to three others, and ask each of them to do the same.
Today I challenge everyone who reads this message to share a smile and a random act of kindness with three people in the next few days, asking each to do the same for three others. Let me know what you did and how it made you feel. As a bonus, do something nice for yourself, too!
As I wrote this passage, I listened to a meditation CD. Abby, the cat who thinks she’s a dog, crawled up beside me then sprawled out across my lap. I petted her and started the purr motor going. She loved it, but it was really a special treat for me. I took a few minutes to enjoy quiet time. I created some early-morning peace for myself, a gift I know will carry me well through the day.
An added perk: I’ve been doing this self-love on a regular basis for over nine months. I’ve cut my blood pressure medicine in half and beginning Friday, it’ll be in half again. Within a few months, I will probably be off it completely since my blood pressure is normal before I even take the meds! This is an example of what a little sharing of love can do. (Note: Make sure you talk with your doctor before doing anything on your own.)
I wish you all a very loving and special holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah…and all the others!
Please share your love…and don’t forget yourself!
