Tis the season for giving

Well, that is what the industrial machine wants us to think anyway.  The machine needs people to keep spending and consuming in order to keep the machine running.  So why not advertise so that they can pull on our emotional strings to convince us their form of giving is a show of love.  

But is it?

What are we trying to tell others with our gift?  Is it an expression of love, compassion and caring?  What if there was another gift that we could give that would blow all those others out of the water?  Would you be willing to invest in that gift?  The gift is sacred, meaningful and scarce for once we spend it, we cannot get it back.  Would you want to give something so scarce as that or should we hold onto it and keep it?

What is it?

Our Time!

What if we actually spent time with people and told them face-to-face how we actually feel about them?  What if we spent time with one another instead of busily rushing about in the stores consuming?  In the end, we are spiritual beings and we cannot take all this 'stuff' with us.  But we can take our memories, feelings and experiences.  So why not make lots of them instead?  

It is my experience that the times I remember most in my life is the time I've spent with others doing very interesting things.  Train ride across this land with my wife this summer is one perfect example.  Quitting my job and spending the last 10+ years building our homestead with her is yet another.  

One of the biggest lessons I learned when I was recovering from depression was to examine the purpose behind the gift.  Why not say to the individual directly using words what we are trying desperately to portray through a gift?  The gift is a fleeting moment in time.  But to actually hear somebody express the love, feelings, respect, admiration or other thoughts is touching and memorable.

I've cried tears while doing this and to have it reflected back is amazing.  Many of us feel unworthy to hear such words from another and this must change.  We are all worth of having somebody else express how they feel about us.  To hear them, see them and feel them express that gratitude and appreciation is an experience that results in growth, increase in self esteem, joy, happiness and love.  It means we are not alone and we don't have to guess how others feel.  We are worthy of love and that then helps us overcome the doubts and bouts of loneliness that people often feel at this time of year.  

Our time here is finite.  When a moment passes, we cannot get it back.  So how do we invest in each passing moment?  If we choose to spend that time with others, that is the greatest gift!  

I encourage phone calls, conversations, even social media posts to express how you feel about others.  Go for walks, play games, help out with the garden.  Teach a class, learn from an elder, learn from a child.  Tis the season for giving people a piece of our heart instead of our wallet.  Yes, there may be lots of tears, but that is a good thing.  It is healing and rewarding to bring somebody else to tears of joy!  

Imagine how our relationships would thrive if we shared with people how we really felt rather than wrapping it and hiding it in a box.  That is Christ level consciousness!  That is the spirit of love.  So rather than trading time for fiat currency, how about we trade time for memories instead?  

I've done it and it saved my life.  I'm sure it has saved the lives of others as well.  Time to give people a piece of our ... heart and our life every day of our lives!