For it is in giving that we receive.

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy.
I woke and I saw that life is all service.
I served and I saw that service is joy.” 

                                            ― Kahlil Gibran

Hey losers.

Sorry, just kidding.  I was feeling feisty.  It's the beginning of the week.  Moving on...  

Remember this post from a month or so ago when we I discussed the remarkable impact of gratitude on our lives and well-being?  Well I love that idea.  And I hope you did too.  And if I may be so bold, today I would like to talk about something I feel has just as profound an impact.  And that is giving.  Now don't freak.  I don't mean giving money (necessarily).  Though, that is wonderful if you are able.  What I am referring to is giving of your time, energy, heart, passions.  A few months ago I decided that seeing as it is my job to coordinate, recruit, and retain volunteers, I should probably stop just "talking the talk" and start walking the walk.  That is, become a volunteer myself.  In management / coordinator / director positions, I think it's important to put ourselves on the other side of the training every once in a while and get an idea for what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.  It's here where we get to answer questions like, "How could I improve?"  "How long is too long to sit in a training?"  "How long is too long to wait for a call back after an interview?"  It's been a couple years since I've been on the other side of the interview table.  Not to mention the fact that I used to spend a LOT of time with sweet little, cute little kiddos in my college nanny life, and I miss their energy, spunk, and sense of humor!  There is a lot to be learned from the innocent, imaginative, unashamed mind of a child, and I find so much energy and inspiration in the adorable hilarity that comes from mouths of babes.

So it didn't take much brainstorming for me to figure out how I wanted to spend my volunteer time.  As a kid I was in and out of the hospital a few more times than my parents would like to remember (nothing life-threatening and by the grace of God I am fine today!), and one thing that made my stay(s) much more comfortable and eased the worries of my family was the presence of a Child Life department.  Certified Child Life Specialists and volunteers exist to make life easier for children and parents of children admitted to the hospital.  Whether it's for a few days after an appendectomy or for multiple rounds of chemotherapy, parents and children find so much comfort in a friendly face who will bring crayons and coloring books to Susie (why is it always Susie?) on a particularly rough day.  Soooo... duh.  I says to myself, "Self!  This is what you're doing."  And it's already changing my life.  I have witnessed and/or experienced astonishing strength, deep despair, quite a few sobs, and plenty of uncontrollable laughter (mostly my own).  It's a roller coaster every single day, but what gets me through is knowing that even if for only 5 minutes, perhaps I was able to distract a sweet little kiddo from his/her ever-present pain and fear.  And that's good enough for me.

This video was introduced to me a couple weeks ago and it might as well take place in the very hospital where I serve.  It's beautiful and powerful and adorable and you'll love it.

Giving is a powerful thing.  And the best part is, we can ALL do it!  Find what floats your boat and dive in!  Bringing joy and relief and comfort to people who need it is amazing and profound and so, so easy.  

And "through this having and giving and sharing and receiving,
we too can share... and love... and have... and receive."
- Joey Tribbiani 

Today's jam: "Here with Me" by Susie Suh x Robot Koch