Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Wanting to Give Helps Learning to Receive


--by starryskies, posted Sep 13, 2012

I had been feeling distant from someone for quite some time.  We hadn't been talking and there were hurt feelings on both sides.  I decided to reach out and text her.  I said I missed her and her kids and asked if they wanted to spend some time together.  She enthusiastically accepted.

Later in the day someone else texted me and offered to take me on a trip in the fall, her treat.  At first I felt guilty, like it was too much.  But then I remembered how good it feels to give and I decided that I would respond with gratitude rather than rejection of her generosity. 

Giving naturally feels good and comes easily to me.  Learning how to feel good about receiving is new for me.  I'm learning about it on this site from other people's stories.  It helps me to remember that giving feels good to the other person.  I don't want to take that feeling away from them by rejecting the gifts they offer.

Give and take, it all balances out.

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Readers Comments

princessliz wrote: Awww, that's nice you two reconnected, and you initiated.
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: It is great you took the first step to reach out. I too had a hard time with receiving kindness. Then I realized that by denying or making it hard to receive kindness I was cheating someone else out of the opportunity to feel great about it doing kindness. I would not want to do that so now I try to graciously receive! :)
Bluxess wrote: Give and take also seems to complete the circuit, doesn't it :-) I am proud of your wanting to connect with your sibling ... That's courage ... Immense blessings :-)
Bluxess wrote: MSS: beautifully said ... let's be an opportunity for others to exhibit kindness, love that :-)

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