A dear friend and I were talking the other day about generosity. She had just posted a website entry about her understanding of generosity, something that was both weighing heavily on her heart as well as opening her heart to light and freedom. Hers was a poignant and moving journal entry. I have had some time to ponder “generosity” and I agree with my friend that we (in this culture) really could fine-tune our sense of generosity. We could use a bit more practice.
snowberry
What I have noticed about some acts of generosity is that they come from a place of subtraction: What do I have that I can stand to lose? How much can I do without? And we offer something to another like a mathematics equation. (I have x minus what I give, y, = what I still want to have when my act of generosity is done.) I wonder how we could begin to cultivate a sense of generosity that comes from addition. I do not mean this in a literal or self-serving way, that we are only to give generously when we can see what we will get from the experience. What I am attempting to convey is that we can give wholly and truly from opening our hearts to others (and ourselves) in kindness, softness and gladness. We can be truly generous not by conjuring how much we can afford to lose by giving, but how much we might lose by not being generous. We can listen to that still small voice within as a guide to our generosity.
the last yellow leaves
Last week I wrote here a little bit about gratitude. Now that it is the beginning of December, the holiday season is in full swing (just listen to the music in the stores, witness the Salvation Army bell ringers, notice the goods for sale on the drugstore shelves!). I am already thinking about the year to come, practices (many people call them “resolutions”) I would like to hone during 2012. If you are like me, you will need some time to really ponder this. (I have never been good at answering the impromptu question on Jan. 1: What are your New Year’s resolutions?) Why not let this season of plenty be our time to shift from gratitude to generosity. How can I be more generous in spirit this month, as I open my heart to that which I would like to grow in the world next year? Acknowledging gratitude (last week’s suggestion) automatically moves us into a place of action on behalf of… When we are grateful, we can manifest this through heartfelt acts of generosity toward others. When we have cultivated gratitude, we find ourselves delighting in offering with hearts of compassion our services, goods, time, and energy.
madrone
So how will you join with me this month, in remembering and pondering gratitude in preparation for, and in practice toward, a new year that is characterized by our grand potential for “additive generosity”?
first day of December
All blog photographs taken by Jennifer J. Wilhoit unless otherwise noted.
