Well here I am back again! I wasn't sure when the day would come when I would desire to repost. I am here as I had an experience last night that reminded me of my mission to spread love and kindness and I wanted to put it out in a concrete way. To solidify my commitment and energize its power.
My last post was on February 5, 2011. The fact that I did not want to or was not called to continue my blog is ok. As it is ok if you started something and fell short of your goal. We can all drop the self-criticism and loud cries of failure and recommit to whatever we are intending for our lives in this very moment.
I was walking in NYC with a friend last night and I just happened to mention one of my past posts called Takin It To the Street. Before I could share with him what it was about, a poor black man came up to us and asked for money for him and his family as he could not find work. I immediately offered him one of the bushels of bananas I had purchased moments before. Afterwards, I turned to my friend and for a moment I was shocked that he was standing next to me. I thought about it and realized that I had shared an intimate connection with this stranger and I was so present in the moment that it was just me and him. Seeing the Divinity in all is part of my definition of love and I was so grateful to be able to practice it. I didn't need to check in on my intention for giving away the bananas as my deeply positive feelings let me know the purity of the gesture. (See Takin It To the Street to get clear on your true intention for doing nice things for others.)
When we make a commitment to ourselves or reaffirm who we want to be in the world, the Universe will give us opportunities to own our vision of our best selves. Or give us the free will to reject that vision and allow us to stay stuck in the pain of separation until we are ready to do otherwise. I felt so grateful to have received an immediate opportunity to put my desire to be a force of love and kindness out into the world. Yes, it may have been a very small outward gesture yet was a giant inward leap towards embodying my true nature and purpose. Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly we are given exactly what we ask for or desperately need in any given moment. I vow to expect this Universal support and to be grateful for any form it arrives to me in.
Are you actively living who you truly are or just making plans to be that person someday when the rest of your life is in order or your to do lists are all checked off? It was recently suggested to me that I am carrying extra "weight" because I am always "waiting" to move forward with my life until all of my criteria are met (including losing weight!). Mmmmm... taking action as a weight loss method. Genuis!!! Guess what? It is already working for me:)
Glad to be posting today. I will stay in today and go where I am led. May you allow yourself to be led to a better place than you could design, plan or map out.
With love and gratitude,
Amber
Dedicated to spreading love, light and kindness to people around the world through
inspirational words and self-less acts.
Showing posts with label unselfishness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unselfishness. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thank Yous Have a Long Shelf Life
I wanted to share a recent interaction I had with my local tailor Eddie that is such a wonderful example of how simple acts of kindness have more of an effect than we realize at the time we are expressing them.
My winter coat was in need of a new zipper so I recently went to see Eddie who had expertly fixed some of my clothes in early and mid-2008. Eddie looked at my coat and told me what was needed yet didn't make any mention that he remembered me. He then told me that he'd give me a discount as that's "what a Princess deserves." I smiled and thanked him.
We spoke for a few more minutes and he told me some of the things going on in his life. He then told me that the coat would be ready for pick up the following Monday. As it was so cold I asked if he could have it done any sooner as "he didn't want this princess to freeze." :)
As I was about to leave, he said that he remembered me from a year ago. He then smiled and asked me if I recalled what I had sent him back then. I couldn't believe he could be talking about what I thought so I automatically said "No." Then I asked, "the thank you card?" He beamed and said "Yes." He said that I was only the third person who had sent him a thank you card in 11 years.
I was and still am shocked that only 3 of the hundreds of customers he has serviced in 11 years took the few minutes out of their lives to share a simple gesture that honors another. I have found that writing a note or letter seems to have more of an impact than a verbal thank you or simply hitting the send button on an ecard.
Interestingly, he thought I had been there a year ago when it has actually been about 2 1/2 years. Clearly the memory of my note stayed fresh in his mind. He also remembered details about the other 2 people who appreciated him many years later. There is no telling the magnitude that something done in love can have on a single person or the world. Just do it with generosity of Spirit and let go of the impact.
Clearly the takeaway here is that people need and crave appreciation and it's so easy to take the few minutes that may be remembered exponentially. I have often heard people say that they feel ignored, devalued, unacknowledged, invisible, lonely etc... yet I have never heard someone say that I am too loved and too appreciated.
KINDESS KREATION: (Hint: this icon indicates something you can do to share yourself unselfishly with the world.) Ok, your turn to start the appreciation process. Who can you thank? It may be easier to start with someone you don't know very well so you don't expect any accolades for your gesture. (Look for a future post on the intention behind unselfish acts.)
Your voice and kindness is always valued. Please share your stories below.
I am now on my way to pick up my coat with loving holiday card in hand:)
UPDATE: I went to pick up my coat and waited in line as Eddie finished up with a customer. I noticed this customer was reading something as Eddie filled out her receipt. She then showed me the card I had sent to Eddie 2 1/2 years ago!!! I learned that Eddie had proudly taken it off his bulletin board and handed it to her when I walked in.
I wanted Eddie to read what I had written about him on this blog so I gave him a slip of paper with this blog's URL on it. This customer was touched by the card and asked for the blog URL to learn the background. I continue to be amazed at the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. I need no more evidence to know their importance and I will dedicate my life to spreading them far and wide.
In love, light and thankfulness,
Amber
My winter coat was in need of a new zipper so I recently went to see Eddie who had expertly fixed some of my clothes in early and mid-2008. Eddie looked at my coat and told me what was needed yet didn't make any mention that he remembered me. He then told me that he'd give me a discount as that's "what a Princess deserves." I smiled and thanked him.
We spoke for a few more minutes and he told me some of the things going on in his life. He then told me that the coat would be ready for pick up the following Monday. As it was so cold I asked if he could have it done any sooner as "he didn't want this princess to freeze." :)
As I was about to leave, he said that he remembered me from a year ago. He then smiled and asked me if I recalled what I had sent him back then. I couldn't believe he could be talking about what I thought so I automatically said "No." Then I asked, "the thank you card?" He beamed and said "Yes." He said that I was only the third person who had sent him a thank you card in 11 years.
I was and still am shocked that only 3 of the hundreds of customers he has serviced in 11 years took the few minutes out of their lives to share a simple gesture that honors another. I have found that writing a note or letter seems to have more of an impact than a verbal thank you or simply hitting the send button on an ecard.
Interestingly, he thought I had been there a year ago when it has actually been about 2 1/2 years. Clearly the memory of my note stayed fresh in his mind. He also remembered details about the other 2 people who appreciated him many years later. There is no telling the magnitude that something done in love can have on a single person or the world. Just do it with generosity of Spirit and let go of the impact.
Clearly the takeaway here is that people need and crave appreciation and it's so easy to take the few minutes that may be remembered exponentially. I have often heard people say that they feel ignored, devalued, unacknowledged, invisible, lonely etc... yet I have never heard someone say that I am too loved and too appreciated.
KINDESS KREATION: (Hint: this icon indicates something you can do to share yourself unselfishly with the world.) Ok, your turn to start the appreciation process. Who can you thank? It may be easier to start with someone you don't know very well so you don't expect any accolades for your gesture. (Look for a future post on the intention behind unselfish acts.)Your voice and kindness is always valued. Please share your stories below.
I am now on my way to pick up my coat with loving holiday card in hand:)
UPDATE: I went to pick up my coat and waited in line as Eddie finished up with a customer. I noticed this customer was reading something as Eddie filled out her receipt. She then showed me the card I had sent to Eddie 2 1/2 years ago!!! I learned that Eddie had proudly taken it off his bulletin board and handed it to her when I walked in.
I wanted Eddie to read what I had written about him on this blog so I gave him a slip of paper with this blog's URL on it. This customer was touched by the card and asked for the blog URL to learn the background. I continue to be amazed at the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. I need no more evidence to know their importance and I will dedicate my life to spreading them far and wide.
In love, light and thankfulness,
Amber
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