Two weeks ago I attended the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference. There I met an amazing woman: Cami Walker. She authored the book 29 Gifts and started 29Gifts.org. Cami lives with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. While she suffers from many of the symptoms and for a while could hardly walk, she now mostly walks on her own, manages to work several days a week and even goes to conferences and meets people like me. And she claims this is because she changed her attitude by giving 29 gifts in 29 days. This opened her up to the work of gratitude, the link between giving and receiving, and the fact that God exists in all things.
Pretty amazing stuff, huh? Knew this stuff already?
Either way, Cami’s challenge is worth taking. I started giving my 29 gifts three days ago. If you want to take the challenge you can read about it Cami’s story here or about the origins of the 29 day giving challenge here. You can read the book, you can log in at 29gifts.org and blog about your experience, or you can simply start giving gifts. I’ve read the book and I’m blogging about my experience on the site.
I suggest you read about the challenge and what types of gifts to give. They don’t need to be big gifts. They simply need to be conscious gifts. Even a prayer for someone counts as a gift. A helping action can count as a gift. A kind word a small deed…these count.
I decided to take the challenge not only because I thought it was a great idea, but also because I was intrigued by Cami’s story–both the turn around of her medical condition and the publication of her book. I also was interested in the dovetailing of her book and mine: The Kabbalah of Conscious Creation. In this book I talk about giving from a place of soul purpose. People have a desire to manifest their desires. When our desires stem from our soul purpose and we manifest those desiresย with the intention of sharing them — giving them to others — we tap into the Divine flow of giving and receiving. God is the ultimate Giver. We were created as receivers. However, to draw close to God, we must also act as Givers. Then we can be one with the Source.
Cami says basically the same thing in much simpler terms. When we give, we receive. The two acts are part of the same continuum. And when we participate in acts of giving, we feel gratitude and closer to God.
I don’t care whose work you read, the point remains the same. Give. Don’t do it because you want to receive. Just start giving and watch what happens. You’ll be amazed.
