Change Your Life Through Giving
I’m on this constant non-fiction book adventure. One book enters my life and it leads me to another, and so on and so forth.
Recently, I picked up 29 Gifts: How A Month of Giving Can Change Your Life.
Something about making someone else’s life easier appeals to me. I see so much suffering in the world that I’ve begun to wonder if giving is the answer to all the world’s problems.
The author, Cami Walker, develops MS a month after her wedding. She ends up in a lot of pain, on a lot of prescription drugs, and with a compromised quality of life. Then she meets Mbali Creazzo, an African medicine woman. Her prescription for Cami’s MS? Give away 29 gifts in 29 days. And so Cami does.
Mbali says, “The best way to attract abundance into your life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude.”
Most of the gifts are small and simple like saving a seat, buying a homeless man tacos, passing along a book, offering some kind words, writing a friend a letter, spending time with a friend or giving your cat a belly rub. But she also suggests giving away something you feel you can’t live without. I did this about 4 years ago. I gave my sister a new shirt I loved because she said she liked it but didn’t have the money to buy it because of her layoff. At first I didn’t think I could give away the shirt. It was mine. It was pretty. It was rare. Then I decided that’s exactly why I should give it away — to liberate myself from materials things.
Cami feels stronger and better with each day of gift giving. She stops needing her cane to walk around the block, takes on consulting jobs, gets closer to her husband. She comes alive and says, “Today, I’m part of a large group of people committee to the vision of a worldwide goodwill movement. Our collective mission is to create a grass roots revival of the giving spirit in the world.”
I love that reason to get up in the morning! Beautiful.
Cami also mentions one of Mahatma Gandhi’s coolest quotes, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Volunteering on various town committees in service to my town gave my life a whole new dimension in fullness. I meet other giving folks and make a lasting impact in my own backyard, which ripples across the planet.
I’m going to do this 29 gifts beginning September 15 and blog about it every few weeks. If you, too, want to give 29 gifts, please visit Cami’s site and sign up: 29 Day Giving Challenge.
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Oh, I read that book and loved it! I find that I resist giving and then I do it and the world opens up. Thanks for the reminder.
Hi Charlotte,
Wonderful that you’ve read it too! People often lead such lonely lives when there’s a world of giving at their fingertips. My mother tried to tell me that during my depressing twenties and I just couldn’t hear it …
thanks! G.
I have not read the book, but, love the concept. I do make an effort to give in many ways and will make a concerted effort starting Monday to not only give in some way, but, to make a conscious effort to give it thought. I do know that when I give something to someone, whether it’s time, money or possessions, I always feel better about everything. One of my favorite Rotary projects is coming up on Sept 29th and it is Happy Feet. I started it six years ago and I coordinate with 12 schools in Mt Pleasant to get lists if needy children who are invited to show up at a Target store on that Saturday morning and we give them a free pair of shoes. I have about 30 Rotarians from our two Mt Pleasant Clubs and about a dozen high school age Interact Club members gather and we check in the students, measure them, shop with them and then take them to the check out. We usually give away about 200 pairs of shoes and it is fun for everyone. I get the nicest letters from the schools and from some parents and that is just the best feeling to know that we can make a little difference. I find that I am smiling as I type this just thinking about what’s coming up.
Hi Lou,
I love Happy Feet! What a fabulous idea. And feet are so important, yet rarely considered. The last thing kids should be wearing are hand-me-down shoes. Of course, this doesn’t surprise me at all. You’ve got the giving gene! Thanks, G.
Giulietta, what a wonderful idea. I know that giving has tremendous curative powers, but I hadn’t realized to what an extent.
I shouldn’t be surprised that in today’s materialistic world, it took an African witch doctor to prescribe this cure. Unfortunately, I’ve found that it’s all too easy for doctors to prescribe a bunch of prescription medicines that often aggravate their patient’s health. The medical profession tends to overlook or dismiss the healing powers of positive action. But they can’t argue with the fact that Cami rebounded after 29 days of giving gifts, proof that giving can be a powerful healer.
Good luck with your 29-day Giving Challenge. Will be interested to hear how it goes for you.
Hi Penelope! Hope all is well with you and your book. Yes, a witch doctor with the cure. I hadn’t thought of it from that angle. And the healing powers of positive action. That may be the cure for most everything. Brilliant. Thank you, I’m enjoying it. G.