Give to Receive

“As you feed the world, the world feeds you.” – Marc David

Is there something you’ve been meaning to get out there and do?  A skill you want to teach?  A class you want to take?  An organization with which you want to volunteer?

I encourage you today – get out there and do it.  Many times we talk ourselves out of adding something else to our already busy lives.  It feels like it will put a strain on our time.  We may not be good at trying something new.  Maybe no one will show up to the class we want to teach.  These are all action-blocking statements.  They are not only holding you back from enriching your own life, but holding you back from bringing enrichment to others.

(But that quiet little voice persists, doesn’t it?  The one that says you have a passion for something: knitting, rock climbing, reading, hiking, writing…The voice that says, “I wish I had more time for … I want to learn more about … I would be really good at …”)

When we give of ourselves, we receive in ways we may not have expected.  This was a major discovery when I started my massage practice.  Clients often comment about how tough and draining this work must be.  “Your hands must get so tired!” they say.  There is some truth to that, sometimes the physical aspect can be challenging, but I understood and have always been prepared to accept that part going into this career.

What I was unprepared for and totally surprised by was how much I get back from giving massage.  I’m filled up with energy after giving even one massage.  When I was studying for my certification, I observed repeatedly that I could go into a day of school feeling tired or otherwise in a sideways mood, but after giving a massage, my inner self would feel transformed, rejuvenated, alive.

The act of listening to another human, reaching out to them with compassion and providing what I feel is one of the most restoring treatments available to our ailing bodies and souls, massage therapy benefits both the giver and the receiver.

I have discovered this in other areas of my life, also.  Recently, I started a Gratitude Group for teens in our local 4H club.  For every meeting, I research a new topic on gratefulness, I prepare some discussion questions and then we complete a crafty project in line with the theme of our meeting.  This is something I felt I could do as a way to give back to our community and to the kids.

What I didn’t expect was that, in return, the kids in my group would be majorly impressing me and blessing me with their willingness to participate, with their intelligent perspectives, the ideas they contribute to the conversation, with their creativeness.  I don’t have kids of my own.  These young souls give me hope for the future.  I am there to “give” a class but I am receiving back more than even I probably realize.

When we give of ourselves, one of the most important things we receive is connection.  The connections we make with other humans then grow and expand, bringing us to new horizons we may not even know exist yet.  It starts when you say, yes, I’ll give.  YOU have something special in you that is unique and the world will be blessed when you decide to give.  Don’t let the negative self-talk stop you.  Don’t let more time pass before you accept the challenge.  You will find that your life can be full and rich in ways you didn’t expect when you courageously step out of your comfort zone.

Give to receive.  Feed the world.  The world is waiting to feed you a feast in return.