Poor Birdy

I want to tell you a true story that is actually sad, but perhaps there is a learning lesson for all of us here. Today I woke up ready to get busy. My basic routine is shower, shave and Java. I had a few meetings this morning so I had to stop at a local 7-11 for my java (coffee). I pull into parking lot, find a parking spot and begin walking to front entrance. Just before I entered store I noticed a bicycle rack just outside front door. Let me explain that I have lived in Canada all of my life. You know we all live in igloos here. It is very cold this morning. On this bicycled rack is a bird, just sitting there. Upon closer inspection it appears bird is frozen solid, while maintaining an upright posture and stuck to bicycle rack. I might add when I looked closely at bird, I observed that he had a pissed off look in his face. I guess I would to. Obviously there was nothing that could be done for poor fellow so I got my Java and carried on.

As I am driving to

The Gifting is on...ready, set, go!

Can you remember favorite gift you received from all past Christmases? Think about that for a few seconds. What gift inspired and excited you most? Try to remember how old you were and giver of gift. Imagine how it must have felt as that person watched you open this present. Well, gifting season has already begun in western world. If you have young children, you may have already noticed television advertisements creating must-have-toy frenzy. If you are in relationship, you may have pondered about special gift that will light up your beloved’s eyes. Regardless of your personal and social circles, pressure is on. The pressure of purchasing, of dressing more elegantly, of entertaining, of attending social events. But heaviest pressure is felt in wallet. For those of you who enjoy paying with plastic, you can delay stress until January statements. Why does this season, that is supposedly about spreading joy and good will in world, have to be so expensive? For many people, it ends up not feeling so joyous because pressure of buying right gift outweighs pleasure of giving from heart. When you give from your pocketbook you share your earnings. When you give from heart, you share a piece of who you really are. Think about people you are going to be giving obligatory gifts to this holiday season. These folks include relatives, acquaintances or colleagues who gave you something last year, friends that you are in habit of giving to. Is it possible that you are so in need of being liked/loved and being seen as a nice person that you are willing to buy this/these feelings with a gift? There is an easy way to find out. First, make two columns on a piece of paper. Label one column “have to”, and other “want to”. Now, write down names of people you want to give to and names of people you have to give to in appropriate columns. Now, you actually have to get your heart involved and look at each name and then beside that name write down feeling you think you would have from gifting that individual. If you don’t think you would feel joy in giving, then I suggest you don’t. It probably won’t be appreciated.