Today, whilst following the same theme, my thoughts turn towards being generous.
Generosity coming in many, forms cannot be overvalued. Generally speaking generosity incites happiness and excitement from those on both sides of it. We love to give, it makes us feel good inside to give a gift to another. Today I’m thinking more of generous living. I have a large family and believe me it’s easy to feel on constant overload. That upside down living that I’ve been talking about is often the key to my feeling a sense of wellbeing around me.
Don’t get me wrong, as carers, as people, we need boundaries and believe me I have no problem saying ‘no’ to my loved ones but living generously with them – thinking about what they need to make their days easier, sometimes being available when I’d rather not be seems to influence the atmosphere around me and rather than depleting me, adds a sense of rest and well-being so that when I do actually rest I’m doing it in an atmosphere that somehow enables me to reap a more fulfilling and rejuvenating rest. It also helps me have a clear sense of when I need to stop and when I do, there is no guilt. My experience is that living in an attitude of generosity towards my family or team at work has a positive effect on my well-being, not because I’m trying to make it so, it just seems to be a natural side effect.
In writing though, I’m really talking to myself. I can so easily think ‘why won’t you all leave me alone for a minute?’ It doesn’t always come naturally to live generously and sometimes has to done on purpose, especially when I see a head poked around my bedroom door when I’m reading or having quiet time! Even saying no to someone, with kindness and consideration can encourage them to think and be less self-centred especially when your posture is generally a generous one.
As I Was Thinking 