29 Gifts, What Can I Say? I'm a Giver

It all started when I stumbled across a book, "29 Gifts In 29 Days, How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life" by Cami Walker. I was just cruising the bookstore. I didn't plan on buying anything because although I love to read, I had new books in the cue, waiting for me. None of that mattered though. I picked it up, bought it, took it home, and read it in a day. I started the 29 day challenge, the very next day. The rest is her-story. :)

For those of you that read through my 29 day challenge thank you. I really appreciated having you come along with me. It has changed my life. I shared it with you in the hopes you would be turned on by this movement and add some goodness to your life too. If any of you were, please share. Publicly or privately, I'd love to hear how things are going for you. You can reach me here via a comment, or at www.29gifts.org, look me up!

I am now on the 6th day of my 2nd round. I started again after an 8 day "break." Break is in quotes because giving is now a regular part of my life, I only broke from blogging about it. ;) I plan on sharing a lot of goodness with all of you so you can expect to hear about this again although it may not be as regular as when I was doing my first round. Because I have been blogging more, I have also been reading more blogs and some people are so self defeating with their stuff. I am not that person. I am not ashamed or weirded out by saying something is great! As a matter of fact, I consciously choose things I can say that about. So cheers! Cheers to the good life, to love, prosperity, wonder, joy, amazement, blessings, passion, excitement, confidence, giving, receiving, and ALL that jazz.


Love to you! 


xo

29 Gifts, Days 13-15

This is it!! After today we are all caught up which means shorter, real time, 29 Gifts blogs! Thank you for your patience and readership up to this point. I hope you are seeing how magical this challenge really is. There is nothing to buy or sign up for which makes it a wonderful low pressure thing to be a part of if you are inspired to do so. The community is here, the book here, and for those of you that are new, you can read the previous days of my journey by scrolling through my blogs. They are all entitled 29 Gifts with the corresponding days following. OK! May you all be blessed with the absolute best people, places, and things in your lives today and always. Any subscriptions, comments, and sharing is greatly appreciated. Love to you. Thank you for reading!

29 Gifts, Day 13. Goodness!!June 6, 2011 at 11:11pm

Hello there! Today has been outrageously busy and fun and cool. I'm sorry to report that I again did not have an intention to my giving I just had the overwhelming urge to give. This shows me that I am fully in the challenge although I do prefer having an intention behind it simply because it then seems to color my day in that feeling... Anyone else experience this? Anyway, here's what I gave and here's what I got. 

I gave a fellow actress the full low down on my haircut when she asked about it. I consider this a gift because some girls are so secretive about their stuff. Ladies, you know you've experienced this before.. ;) What I got from it was a wonderful experience sitting and gabbing with this girl like old friends even though we'd just met. 

I shared lots of smiles and hellos today. What I get from giving this gift is such a warm and wonderful feeling. It also makes me feel so connected, happy, and confident. Sure, there are some people that don't smile or answer but it happens very rarely and even when it does, I am still left feeling good inside. 

I paid for treats from Canter's deli. Some rugula and black & white cookies that my husband was craving. 

& lastly,

I got up and got some napkins for a man that was coughing his poor heart out. I'm talking watery eyes, drool, just having a rough go at it. In the past something like this would have freaked me out because I like things clean and turn away from germs. However, what I got and am getting from this is that people and our connections are everything. Those hang ups I had have been diminishing if not fading away completely. His look of gratitude really spoke to me. As have the other touching moments I have experienced so far. Sometimes, most times, a moment the duration of the blink of an eye transcends the universe. Everything makes sense, in that connection. 

I am happy to report I have been auditioning my butt off and I have a callback tomorrow. That's one step closer to a booking. YAY! I have felt great and before where I was feeling stuck and confused with all of the things that had been going on in my life, I now feel energized and filled with ideas and purpose. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love to all, goodnight. <3

29 Gifts, Day 14. Saddle up!June 7, 2011 at 8:47pm

Egads friends today has been a doozy. My giftly intention today was "I give my service and I give my faith." This came to me and felt perfect after I struggled coming back home from my callback audition today. Sometimes things don't appear as we'd like them to and so I had a moment of uncertainty (for the story please go to my O.G. blog) but once my intention came over me it allowed me to stay in the game and keep pushing. Here's what I gave today....

I stopped what I was doing in mid preparation for my day and went over to give my hubby a long hug and kiss good morning. I woke up before him and was not only not trying to bother him but in the swing of things. He gave me something right back by showing such love and his undivided attention even though when I walked over to him he was checking his phone. 

I gave my contact info to a fellow actress signed with my agency. This was upon her request based on our agent's recommendation. What I got from it was a possible connection and a good time spent in the moment. 

I shared the news about a courageous little girl and her amazing family via my blog in hopes that her message would be passed. They are awesome people and I came across it while in a funk this morning. What I got out of this was getting to know them a little bit and a huge dose of much needed perspective. 

I prepared my husband a healthy lunch when he started feeling like having a mid day coffee. This is usually a sign he's getting hungry so I whipped up something good and healthy for the both of us. This gave me a chance to sit with him and enjoy a meal and he gave me a wonderful sincere compliment when he tasted his food. 

I gave tears of joy to a friend and tears of gratitude to the Lord for the miracle I witnessed today. Even now I'm getting emotional thinking about it. Remember the friend I sent the necklace to on Day 8? She text me to let me know she'd gotten hired as a receptionist today!!!! 6 days ago she was facing eviction and everything was upside down. No job, no prospects. Now this!! Praise God.

I want to share some more miracles with you. This morning's financial worry was eradicated with news of more money in our accounts than we'd thought, 2 auditions and another callback for me tomorrow, and an opportunity (if approved) for me to DJ another event beginning of next month! All of these opportunities came in a flurry this afternoon. I am humbled, grateful, and amazed by this experience. I am sharing it with people via my original blog in hopes they get in on this too. May we all get miracles in our lives. Today and always. Love to you!

29 Gifts, Day 15June 8, 2011 at 10:53pm

Today has been sheer magic friends. I will try to make it short because there is so much to share. My intention for the day was, "Today I give my best." This is what that looked like. 

I spent extra time preparing for my day's appointments. Made it to all of them on time or early. Gave my all at my auditions and callback. Spoke to fellow actors in the room and genuinely wished them well & I thanked the casting directors and session runners. This made me so happy and it seemed to have the same effect on them. My energy was way up and I made a new friend today in a fellow actress. 

I smiled and talked to people throughout the day. Giving as much positivity to others at every opportunity. This included while driving and walking around my fair city. I got a great feeling out of this and felt connected to others. 

I sent love via text to 2 of my girlfriends, called my Grandmother to give her my love and support, and texted my brothers to let them know how much I love them and am here for them.

I gave my most professional, attentive, expeditious service to a client of mine. They are frazzled due to their upcoming event and my goal is to put them not only at ease but to go above and beyond to please them. This is the DJ opportunity I spoke of yesterday... It's been confirmed!!! :D

I finally got to visit the church that Cami references in the 29 Gifts book. It's near my home and I had been meaning to check it out since I read about it. My visit today was premeditated but the timing couldn't have been more divine. I felt at home there and will definitely be returning.

Lastly, I called my Mother back immediately. Her and I have never had a close or good relationship. For example, when my son left home, I was going through the ringer. I sent out an email to my "family" to inform them of what had happened. She didn't even answer me. I could go on but let's just say that when it comes to a mother daughter relationship, the only one I know of is the one I have created with my daughter. This is part of the reason I cherish all of you beautiful angels so much. Aside from my close girlfriends, my grandmother, and my daughter, I haven't known much about the female bond. Because my son leaving was recent I could've chosen to not answer her or postponed calling her back. Plus, I was rushing from my day's events to this new church I had been planning to attend. But with my giftly intention in mind I called right back. It turns out she was just diagnosed with throat cancer. Naturally overwhelmed at this news I took a deep breath quickly swallowing my up and coming tears and remained poised and collected offering her any and all help I could including my prayers for her health. This news seems ironic and strange because the only female caregiver and support I have ever known which is my beloved Grandmother (her mother) was just diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood) in May. I stayed on the phone with her until she was done, giving her my full attention, love, offers of support, and then went into the wonderful church and filled out a prayer request in both of their honor. 

I did my best today and one of the things I got from that was a wonderful feeling that is still with me. A feeling of peace, a feeling of love and a faith that anything else that might be needed although out of my hands, is taken care of. 

Let's please cherish every moment. Love to you. <3

29 Gifts, Days 4-6

Hello my darlings, I'm back as promised with days 4-6 of this magical journey I am currently on of giving 29 gifts in 29 days. If you are new to this blog the introductory blog is here and days 1-3 are here.  Please note, I will be posting 3, 29 gifts blogs at a time every weekday until Thursday, June 9th which is when everything will be caught up and I will be on my 16th day. After that, you can expect much shorter posts as they will be real time daily posts chronicling this experience.

29 Gifts, Day 4 May 28, 2011 at 9:03pm

Hello friends! How are you? As for me, today was lovely... the weather was great, I had fun and all was good. I decided to base my intention on happiness thereby making my intention. "Today I give with happiness".

I must admit I was going to go stealth at first but when it started to become contrived I figured it wasn't in the cards today. My style is to allow this to flow. If I feel I'm working really hard I just let myself be still to allow the right feeling come to me. So, it did and giving happiness is what came.

As for what this looked like, I had several conversations with employees at one of my regular breakfast restaurants, I held open the door for a woman while entering a public ladies restroom, and I found myself shouting compliments out of my car when noticing a couple of really cool dressed girls I thought were rockin'.

What I got out of this was a sense of real community. People responded to me openly and my interactions were welcomed even though there were multiple occasions when I struck up conversations with people I didn't already know. Hubby also surprised me with a little cash to have in my wallet. Most of all I am feeling a real sense of contentment. A deep sense of having everything I need and being totally happy with all that I have. While browsing a couple stores today I saw some items that in the past I might have coveted but now while I liked those items there was no urge or need to have them right now. It's like I already do. :)

I hope that all of you have had a great gifting day. I've been floored at how wonderful and supportive all of you are in this wonderful community. Thank you for making me feel so at home here and sharing your thoughts by reading and then commenting my blogs. Until tomorrow!

29 Gifts, Day 5May 30, 2011 at 3:12am

2:18 am. Just back from a night out with hubby, we went to support a fellow DJ and had such a great time. Real cap off to an already excellent day. I find it uncanny that my gifting intentions come to me and end up being just right every time. Like naming a kid. Anyone else experience this? 

My first gift today was to myself. I slept really late and just let it happen. No judgements or anxiety. I just let myself sleep and rest. It was glorious. I was lost in a sea of beautiful dreams and woke up feeling like a queen. Ahhhh, thank you Lord, what a gift indeed. 

As I reflect I realize I was quite the receiver today and that is a gift in itself not only for me but to every person that gave to me. Ever try to do or say something nice to someone and they just can't accept it?? I'm realizing more and more that's bad for everyone involved. This has helped me see how important it is to be a gracious receiver as well. I feel that doing this honors everyone and who doesn't wanna do that right? Let me tell you what I was blessed with today...

When I woke up, my husband was gone for the 2nd day in a row to the gym. Major gift. I love this man and his health is top priority so anything he does to be healthy makes me happy and if he gets his sexy on in the process too... well WOO HOO!! :D I also got a lovely set of compliments and I had a great interaction with a woman who let me dash in the restroom right before her. I had been holding it a while since we had gone on a drive and I was dying! She wasn't only understanding, she was really nice about it. I was so grateful for that. 

As for what I gave today and my intention, today I went stealth...

I dropped off a box of CD's at a local store to be given away. The CD's were my original music (hubby & I comprise a Hip Hop, R&B, Pop duo called Dynamite Jive), I also filled out a thank you card for the management team here at my apartment. They do such a wonderful job I thought it would make a cool surprise. No signature necessary.. ;) Lastly, hubby gave a stealth gift too! We had gone Downtown and were at a location where you had to pay a quarter to use the restroom. Well, he paid for himself and three other people! This made me happy because I've told him about the challenge so he can think about it and hopefully be inspired. If it happens it'll be because he really wants to take it on which is why I thought his gesture was really cool. 

In terms of love and happiness, I often hear references to "the light" so when I looked up and saw this I had to capture and share because I thought it was fitting. Isn't it ironic that the light like love and happiness is also always warm? 

May we all continue to give and receive gifts. With love. :)

29 Gifts, Day 6May 31, 2011 at 1:17am

Today was slow, I was really tired after 5 hours of sleep. For some reason after going to bed well after 3 am I naturally woke up at 8. Because an intention for my giving wasn't coming to me I was going to go stealth but as the day progressed I was hit with this: "Today I give my service." This brought me to cleaning up my roommates bathroom. I gave it a hotel style cleaning not wanting to disturb his personal belongings or overstep any boundaries. I felt good about it because it happened organically. Then, without even thinking about it, when he came home I didn't say anything about it so I guess it was a stealth give after all. 

As for what I got well, I have been blessed with a lot of lessons so far that I feel will be with me a lifetime. Today's is a sense of pride from my true desire to stick with this. For some reason it seems impossible to even think of not seeing this through at least until the 29th day if not for the rest of my life. Another big thing is a true desire to continually connect with others. It seems foreign not to do so or not to just help people if I see opportunities as I go about my day. I must admit that today I wasn't as outgoing or energetic as I usually am but that's because aside from being very tired I just didn't feel too well due to starting my menstrual cycle. Sorry if this is T.M.I. but it's important to me to be as real as possible here and that very much affected my overall mood. I must reiterate though that even with these factors, I still gave, it's like I needed to. Anyone else relate to these feelings?