Day 304: Gifting Your Gifts

In the holiday season of the western world, gift giving is a staple.

Consumerism is at the forefront and buying things for the people in our lives is top of mind. It's 'what you do' during the holidays.

Sure, there is an aspect of appreciation, generosity, love and compassion that comes out in different ways. But, front and center are always GIFTS.

I was skimming a Susie Moore email that came through my inbox and one of her nuggets managed to catch my fast scanning eye:

"Gifts you stop using (writing, teaching, designing, photography the list goes on…) will make you feel miserable over time. Your skills exist to be used and to bring joy to everyone who encounters them! What can you pick back up - just for you?"

I fully believe this sentiment, which is probably why it jumped out at me.

We all have inherent skills and talents for a reason.
And that Reason can actually be broken down into smaller pieces.
   1) To provide happiness and meaning for oneself
   2) To share and magnify this happiness and meaning with others

By definition (Merriam-Webster's, that is), a Holiday is
- a period of exemption or relief
- a holy day
- a day on which one is exempt from work.

And a Gift is
- the act, right, or power of giving
- a notable capacity, talent, or endowment
- [something] voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

If we were to combine these meanings, we might get something that reads loosely along the lines of:
"Voluntarily giving a notable talent to others as a means of experiencing relief, freedom [of duty], and holiness." 

I don't know about you, but I've never thought about Holiday Gifts this way before. . .

So, in the spirit of the holidays - and this new interpretation - why not explore what it means to give the gift of 'you'? The things that are unique about you?

The things you enjoy, are drawn to, and captivated by - what would it be like to share them [more] with others?

What would it be like to share them [more] with yourself?