Good morning, everyone! I was reflecting this morning about happiness and the spirit of Christmas. The popular children's book, The Giving Tree, came to mind. There's a lot packed in this little children's book, and a lot to be learned. In the story, the boy is very selfish, while the tree gives him unconditional love. In the beginning of the book, the boy is content to be present with the tree: he swings from the branches of the tree, eats the apples it produces, and after days of playing with the tree he rests his tired little body beneath its shady branches. The boy even marks the tree with a heart that shows his love and gratitude for all the tree has given; but as the boy grows older, he starts to forget about the tree, he doesn't visit very often, but when he does, he only comes to ask for things: for apples to sell for money, for timber to build a house and a boat to sail far away. Throughout the story you can see plainly that the boy is unhappy and becomes even more discontent as he grows up. There are a lot of things to be gleaned from this tale; first of all, just as the boy was happy and content in the beginning of the book when he was enjoying the company of the tree, we can also learn to embrace happy contentment when we live in the present moment and give back to those who love us. It also shows that focusing on material things and how we can possess more and more, we actually lose our sense of purpose and joy for life.
Happiness, purpose and joy often comes from giving to others; of finding a way to share love with those around us, whether it be giving to a stranger or someone close to us. I have found in my own life, that the more I focus on myself and my own problems, the more unhappy and discontent I become.
It can be a controversial subject as the selfcare, and self-absorbed trends take off. I will say that I am all about selfcare, health and wellness, meditation, and nurturing your inner world; but this type of lifestyle is very different from being self-absorbed. When we take care of our own mind, body and soul, we are able to give more to others. We cannot pour from an empty cup. I will also say that not giving of yourself constantly, doesn't mean you're selfish; but in the spirit of Christmas, I will say that giving of ourselves to others adds joy and a sense of purpose to our lives. It gives us a sense of connection to others and gives us a sense of hope. Life is hard. We all go through things: we all face fears, discomfort, stress, pain, uncertainty, loss, grief... I could go on forever; but the truth is we all can help each other alleviate these hardships. We all can show up for each other and give one another this sense of hope that we may have lost. I also want to mention how important it is to be open to receive from others with a sense of grace and gratitude. Showing gratitude to those who give to us is a huge part of sharing in the connection with others and spreading joy and hope. Being present in the moment, giving freely to others and accepting the love of those who give and care for us is where we find true happiness. Have a Blessed Christmas!
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