Being mindful of accepting gifts with grace:
I am a very lucky girl.
I’ve recently received some really wonderful gifts from big-hearted friends; inspiring bracelets, Tibetan Cymbals and Mindfulness Book, audio healing resources and online e:courses.
And today I received a big surprise in the post.
A dear friend has generously sent me a box full of books by one of my favourite authors.
Just because.
A whole heap of emotions pulsed through me from feeling gobsmacked, disbelief, tearful, excited, and over-the-moon.
And if I’m being completely honest, overwhelm and panic has set in.
Sounds crazy, I know.
I don’t know about you, but it’s all too easy for me to feel awkward when being the recipient of a generous gift. Feelings of “I don’t deserve this”, “This is too much”, or “I feel bad I can’t reciprocate at the moment” surface.
But I’ve come to realise that saying this can completely deflate the giver: it can deny them the pleasure of giving. I realise it’s about being grateful for how someone has taken the time to think about you and given you something you’d enjoy.
I recall an article that had a big impact on me. In it, Ellen Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard, said: “Receiving with grace isn’t about taking. You should see it as offering someone else the joy of giving.”
It’s about accepting gifts with grace.
It’s not easy, but I’m working on it.
So instead of feeling bad about the lovely gifts I’ve received, I choose to think : Look what magic and kindness my Fairy Godmothers have sprinkled on me, I am so blessed.
And I smile and say: Thank you dear friends.
So with this in mind, my happy for today is being mindful of accepting gifts with grace.
