A Master in the Art of Givinig

"A Master in the Art of Giving"

By; Eileen Rahilly O'Sullivan 

Originally published in the Oak Lawn Patch 12/09/11

 

Eye Wonder if, this year you could truly be Santa to those you love, you know the magical can grant any wish, kinda Santa, what would you give them? I know if I possessed that special ability, I would give everyone in my family the same precious gift of another day/Christmas with our Mom.

 

Emerson said it well, "Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts, the only true gift is a portion of thyself." My mom, Maureen passed away more than six years ago. Life without her in it is definitely not the same for any of us that were loved by her. She was truly an amazing woman, selfless, thoughtful, kind and oh so giving.

She constantly showered all in her path with her unconditional love and poured every ounce of energy she had providing and caring for others. Throughout her lifetime she touched many lives, making a lasting, loving and positive impression and impact on each and everyone who crossed her path. Her presence in our life was truly one of the greatest and most valuable gifts any of us has ever been fortunate enough to receive, blessed to have and experience.

My father still flatly declines any mention of changing the message on their house answering machine. The initial sound of my Mother's voice takes the unaware caller by surprise. However, for the rest of us, I suspect, including myself, intentionally call at times when we know for sure my dad is not going to be home, just to be greeted by that familiar although dearly missed, sweet and softly spoken Irish lilt of hers, allowing for just a brief moment to imagine her still here with us.

Personally, I wish I could go back and erase those times that I was hurtful towards her, unkind and ungrateful. I should have spent less time focusing and allowing our minor differences to irritate me and more time celebrating and acknowledging her too- many-to-mention, positive and unique attributes including even the few that some claim I myself have gratefully inherited from her.

The lyrics in David Gates song titled, “Everything I Own" expresses that bitter sweetly stated passage, "Is there someone you know, your loving them so but taking them all for granted, you may lose them someday, someone takes them away, and they won't hear the words you long to say."

This festive holiday season is the perfect time and a please don't miss opportunity to demonstrate your appreciation to those that love you and who by their helpful deeds and kind words add to your life making it more meaningful, happier and manageable.

Take the time to tell and and show those closest to you how much you value them and appreciate how they continually contribute to your life. If by chance, there is an area in a relationship that needs mending, try to understand that none of us are perfect especially those that some of us expect to be, like; our parents, spouses, and children.

Sometimes we have such idealistic, high and unreasonable expectations of our loved ones, allowing them no room for even the slightest imperfections or human errors, sadly for some this seems to hold true especially to our Moms.

If you happen to be one of those fortunate enough to still have your mom and/or other caring family members in your life and on your side, be grateful, be understanding, tolerant and if necessary, forgiving. Say now what you want to remember saying to them, when they are gone.

 

Our lives are our most precious gift, our own and those of our loved ones; gifts that can expire at any given moment, and too often do without warning. So be sure to enjoy, embrace and treasure each day, every hour and moment that you get...and share as much of it with your cherished family and friends.

Genuine love, affection and friendships cannot be bought or stolen. They are the truly magical and the most valuable gifts any of us can offer to or accept from each other.

Lets all play Santa this holiday season, and then throughout the year and sprinkle our own personal magic on our loved ones by giving to them the most valuable gifts, those we can share everyday, simply by following the wise words in this poem by Wilfred A. Petereson's,

"The Art of Living"

 

"We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the heart: Love, kindness, joy, understanding, sympathy, tolerance, forgiveness.

We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the mind: Ideas, dreams, purposes, ideals, principles, plans, projects, poetry.

 

We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the spirit: Prayer, vision, beauty, aspiration, peace, faith.

 

We give of ourselves when we give the gift of words: Encouragement, inspiration, guidance."

Does the too big to fail motto create a too small to succeed one?

Eye wonder if the message of too big to fail has caused the concept of too small to succeed? Is that the message being sent to us, or is that the message we are internalizing? Statistics show us that the rich are getting richer while the middle class is losing ground. Benefit's and salaries of the working class are shrinking and the self worth of our under class is sinking deep into levels of despair. Are we unknowing slaves to capitalism, cronyism, and big government or are we merely puppets willing to go with the flow, either to broken, scared or tired to say no, enough already.

I wonder who would have benefited by Verizon's proposed $2.00 convenience fee, (had it not been revoked due to the backlash it received). Would the low man on the totem poll have witnessed an increase in their pay check, (you know the one struggling to pay his/her mortgage or medical bills) those living pay check to pay check or would it have gone directly into the deep pockets of the high salaried CEO and Directors (you know the ones undecided on where to build their 5th summer home, or which $50,000 dollar sports car to buy their grandson for his 16th birthday)?

Just like all those other "convenience, taxes and hidden fees" that we the regular working class people are constantly being charged, and continue to just pay.  When will enough finally be enough? While most are being paid less and expected to work more others are reaping six and seven figure bonus.  I wonder why we keep agreeing to it? How much longer can we afford to keep paying the price of the wealthy's (corporate, government's, and individuals) greed. I wonder if we are just to scared or have been convinced that we the working middle class/mom and pop people and places should forget about success and be grateful to just get by.

I wonder how much one young woman's ( Molly Katchpole, the 22year old recent graduate and part-time Nanny) campaign and petition influenced verizon's decision to revoke the charge? I wonder how many more changes and injustices the average Joe/Jane could initiate and correct by speaking up and out. I believe our voices are one of the most influential and powerful tools we possess especially once we join them with others and one of the world's other most powerful and influential tools, the Internet.

I believe we are not to small to succeed, and our chance at a healthy future depends on us to do so.  Eye wonder what you think we could and need to change and improve and how. Eye wonder what YOU are willing to speak up and out about?