If I can be so bold I would hazard to guess that in every one of our lives we have at some point or another, whether intentionally or not, heard or overheard, read and/or experienced firsthand the age-old idiom of “it’s better to give than to receive”.
Well, usually related to the physical act of the giving some kind of gift, item, trinket, thing…I wonder, what does this mean when we don’t necessarily always have the means to give in this way? I mean, if the best things in life are ‘supposedly’ free, how can this ever truly apply anyway?
Well, this week I stumbled on the following video.. (if I was a little too subtle, that is your cue to ‘click’ play)
So, putting the proverbial lump that quickly developed in my throat aside, the thing that struck me the most in this little video was how often I heard a statement that went along the lines of “I don’t think I’ve ever said this to you before, but…”. So, it got me thinking. Imagine if this wasn’t the case. Imagine if we daily made a conscious decision to tell those around us, whether it be a family member, a friend, a colleague or perhaps even just an acquaintance, things we notice during the course of our living in their ‘space’. The things that we witness about them, things that maybe have made us smile, have made us proud, have spurred us forward. Maybe there are things that we simply just admire about who they are, things that make them great and perhaps bring us and others joy. Surely, in a world where so many of us often question our value and worth, this could be the cure? Better still, the prevention?
Now, in the context of the age-old idiom mentioned at the beginning, you may be thinking that when it comes to this, surely it is by far more satisfying to be the recipient of this kind of encouragement than it is to be the one who makes the effort to give it? Well, yes, for the most part I would totally agree! Quite frankly, who doesn’t like to be on the receiving end of a compliment or statement of praise? Hello, we all know we do. To be recognized for your qualities by a peer, by those we love, or those we equally admire has the capacity to affirm like very little else can. This all being said, as I watched this clip, I noticed something quite wonderful about the compliment givers. Not one person begrudgingly complimented the other or even found it difficult to do so. Full smiles on their faces, the odd quiver of emotion in each voice, selfless words of gratitude were freely spoken to the person they were complimenting and the result? This action seemed to make the compliment giver equally, if not more happy than the recipient.
Author Og Mandino once quoted, “Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself”. Albert Einstein, who I’m sure we all have heard of, also said “the value of a man resides in what he gives, and not what he is capable of receiving”.
So, my resolve? I believe this can be found in the following statement..
The changed life of which this speaks, very possibly may be a recipient, but let me also hasten to suggest that it could also be the ‘giver’…
So, why not put this to the test? Perhaps the value we seek for ourselves actually can begin with that which we recognize in others…perhaps?