I was reading through an article in the newspaper that was speaking about giving in kindness and taking with gratitude. Had me thinking about this whole concept of giving and taking. While all of us do little acts of kindness, sometimes impulsively being generous, we are gifted with this calmness, a feel good factor that gives us immense satisfaction. On the other hand we are very uncomfortable with taking. When others do us a turn of good, we feel indebted to them, obligated to return the favour or just feel inundated with an immense feeling of gratitude. We are not gracious in accepting as we are in giving.
Is it our upbringing that makes us feel good about giving and not taking??Is that why we are always stumped when we come across someone who does us a favour? Are we brought up and conditioned to feel guilty when we accept things or favours from others?
Maybe its just our time to take . Like it is our time to give at certain times, sometimes its just our time to take and accept it with gratitude. Maybe we have to look at it in a little different way and realise that when we take we also give the person giving that sense of calmness, that feeling of self satisfaction and then accept the gesture graciously.
“In this endless game of give n take, maybe we should just play along,taking and giving as life asks us to, enjoying the gifts as we take and give , without grudging our ‘misfortune’ of being takers , not feeling lesser for being a taker or feeling superior for being a giver”
October 28th, 2009 at 7:14 am
i just feel so low all of sudden
October 28th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Awww AD was hmm just not my intention hugggs … just goin thru some stuff thats in my mond n wrote this one hmmm .
October 30th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Very well said, you chose a great topic Kupid, and I feel its good timing, although i also feel a lil overdue that someone should explain this give and take thing… you did it, and appreciate it much!
Yes, I do believe its something that we are conditioned to it, that we should give, give and give! We should give help, food, money, guidance, give whatever we can to help the other person. However, like you said, when it comes to taking, we feel odd and not-so-good about ourselves; and aptly said, we SHOULD give the other person too, an opportunity to 'feel good' about giving..why not!
Also, I have been taught, that when we give anything, we should NOT allow ourselves to feel 'superior' in any way at all, (some people do think this way, alas!) because it is the greatness of that person to accept a favour from us,, whatever it may be.
Small example: if we had food left over, and we sent it to the neighbour, or a needy person,and he accepted it, he did us a favour by accepting the food, or else it would have gone to waste!
Hope this makes sense to all!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Well said Billorani n an apt example
Thank you for appreciating the article.