The Joy of Giving

Life is a boomerang and the more you share with others, the more life gifts you back. The pleasure derived on seeing the joy on the face of those with whom you share is something beyond the ability of words to express. Though we dedicate just a single week to mark the joy of giving, yet the joy of giving never ends, it makes us enrich our lives, though unconsciously.

It is a common myth among people that this Joy of Giving Week is meant for the billionaires who can afford to "waste" crores of amount on others. The fact is that one does not need to be affluent in order to experience the soulful bliss that is offered though giving. What is needed is just a heart that beats for others, a mind which believes in the power of blessing one receives from the Almighty when one shares with others and a life that lives to wipe even a single tear from others' eyes rather than shedding a thousand of one's own.

One does not deserve the tag of a "winner" based on what one has accumulated or how many people did one keep as one's servants. Instead, one is remembered by what one has given and how many people one has served. To enjoy the solace that giving provides, one need not set out on a grand mission to help others. All that is required is to rise beyond the greed of self and selflessly immerse in the pleasure of giving to your own family members, friends and colleagues.

Gifts are always priceless. Gifts are meant to be measured in terms of the warmth and sincerity with which those are given rather than the cost involved. And gifts need not be some expensive materialistic things, those can also be spiritual in nature but must come straight out of the heart. A simple, warm smile can make someone's day while a few words of encouragement can boost someone's morale. A small gift of acceptance and forgiveness to one when one is on the wrong side can bridge a seemingly huge gap between the two.

According to Mother Teresa, the most painful feeling is the feeling of loneliness. Indifferent attitude of others towards you can give you more pain than anything else. So if you can give a gift of interest to those who feel the pain the loneliness, you not only would be able to bring smiles on their faces but also earn their gratitude for you. A gift of recognition to the starving people can enlighten their spirit and motivate them to work harder.

The greatest gift that can be given to others is your time. It's when you devote your time for someone, you give away your most precious possession. No gift is better than giving your time to someone you love and care about--it can even fill the void between the enemies! So start giving and immerse yourself in its joy right from this moment when life is still yours.