Giving In The New Year

I received this in my mailbox for the holidays and I think these would be good to keep in mind for our actions in the New Year… what do you think?

1. The Gift of Listening: No interrupting, no fixing, no advising, no planning your response. Just listening.

2. The Gift of Affection: Be generous with hugs, kisses, massages etc. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for your family and friends. Remember that friendships are tied together by heart-strings – not purse strings.

3. The Gift of Laughter: Clip cartoons and jokes; pass or email them on. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, ‘I love to laugh with you’.

4. The Gift of a Written Note: It can be a simple ‘thanks for your help’, a card with your own message, a poem. (In this electronic age, it can be done by email but it’s not quite the same) It could be remembered for a lifetime — even change a life.

5. The Gift of a true, honest Compliment: A simple and sincere “I appreciate what you’ve done for me”, “you look so good today” or “It was a wonderful meal”, can make someone’s day.

6. The Gift of a Favor: Every day go out of your way to do something kind. Remember: “100 years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be still a little better because I was helpful in someone’s life”.

7. The Gift of Solitude: There are times when we want nothing more than to be left alone… quiet. Be sensitive to those times in others.

8. The Gift of a honest cheerful Disposition: The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, smile and say ‘Hello’ or ‘Thank you’ as much as you can. Attitudes are contagious — is yours worth catching?