A Gift-It-Forward Birthday Present

--by amy, posted Oct 9, 2010

I recently went to a meditation session. At the end of the visit our host told us the following Monday was his birthday. He asked if, as a gift to him, we would do something kind for someone else on that day.

I thought that was an awesome birthday idea!

The following Monday, I saw my neighbor, a new mother, in the yard with her baby. I went outside to say 'hello'. In the course of the conversation, she told me, not in a complaining way but just as a matter of circumstance, about the sleeplessness and the challenges to get anything done with a baby in tow.

I remembered my meditation host's request and said, "Hey! Why don't I watch your baby for an hour. I'll just hang out with him here in the back yard and you go in and take an hour to yourself."

She was so surprised she almost cried. "Are you serious? Really? Would you be able to do that?" "Of course!" I said. "I'd be happy to!" (This neighbor knows me so it wasn't like she was leaving her baby with a total stranger.)

An hour later she came outside with a smile on her face. "I got so much done!" I had sang every kid's song I knew and had a good time hanging out with the baby too. And I was so happy to see her smiling like that.

It was one of the best birthday presents I've ever given, and it has inspired me to ask the same from all my friends this year. It's not like I need any more stuff and I know it will make me feel great to know my friends are out there sharing their talents and time with people who can really use it.

5667 Reads

Posted by amy
Oct 9, 2010
Comments (22)

Readers Comments

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Giving to someone else is the best birthday present indeed! We can indeed change the world with unselfish acts like that! :)

unknown wrote: that's cool ! I like this idea :) thanks for sharing amy :)

iferlamb wrote: I LOVE LOVE LOVE, LOVE it!
smiles...

Pali Raj wrote: Amy, you did it on your meditation host's request. There you had the feel of giving and that was the touching part of your act that did not give you the real pleasure alone instead whoever goes through your story/act of kindness will feel the pleasure, you felt!

Lisa wrote: This is a great idea! I've often thought of asking friends to donate money to charity instead of buying me presents, since i don't need anymore.

Charlie wrote: This is a great idea. Maybe i will try using it for holiday gifts too!

Ðí´«¿¡ wrote: This is an emotional birthday gift both to the host and the author herself. It is a sign to build a harmonious society as we are doing now in china. But to tell you the truth, not all the neighbours can dare the venture to let a neighbour look after their kids for you see sometimes some neighbours will take the advantage of this chance to do something unworthy. But anyhow i appreciate thie account and will follow suit if i have the chance. I love kids and i also love friendly neighbourship.

Ðí´«¿¡ wrote: Helpothers. Com is of course the most lovely place on the internet which i like to surf nearly every day. I even remcomment it to my students and they also like it very much. But as i confessed in some other comments in this website, i can not upload my stories to this website to share with others. Is there any one who can help me out? What i really want to do is to helpothers. My email is xcjwz@126. Com. Please help me out.

Edward wrote: I love it to help others like amy did and i did it for my neighbours when they were too busy to care for their son and this son has now become my good friends and he has been helping others since he was ten.

Edward wrote: Good amy. I love it that you share your love of your neighbour's kid to your host. Good amy, good luck.

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