I have had this on my heart lately and really wanted to share, in case any of you are feeling the same.
One of the most important traits I hope to pass on to my girls is how to be grateful giving humans. I wany to raise humans that are grateful, and don't think twice about sharing what they have. An obvious way that we do this is simply allowing them to see us give, to charity, to the school, to the shelter, to the person in line behind us.
But the most important way that I teach that lesson is taking the time to sit with them and talk about how giving makes them feel. Because in the end we become better humans by finding joy in being kind, living, giving people.
A favorite things to do is pay for someone behind us in the drive thru, and one day we had someone drive over and tell us that they had had such a horrible day with bad news and that us paying for their breakfast and coffee made them cry with joy.
They then paid for the person behind them and that car honked and waved. I looked back and saw two proud and very happy girls who saw the joy they spread by doing something kind. I drove a bit and then asked "how did seeing someone so happy because of something you did, make you feel? "
Zoe answered, "It made my stomach have butterflies and me want to cry a little, but happy crying. Like getting a favorite gift happy." Birdie said," it makes me want to always do something nice just incase someone is having a bad day...." And there in that moment with picking up someones 9$ tab I taught a forever lesson.
As we enter the season of busy, of rushed and stress, and decorating, and cold/flu season, remembering gifts, bills, and deadlines at work, I want to challenge you to take a step back and remember the humans we want to be, and the ones we want to raise.
Let's be those people on a regular, and maybe it starts with one thing, one moment, every day and can add up to so much more. As simple as helping a stranger, dropping a meal, picking up a tab, cooking for a lonely friend, stopping to talk to someone who needs an ear.
Let's remember the season we are in for more than just the perfectly decorated house, and how many gifts under the tree, this is a season of giving, kindness, reflection, friendship and how we can show our children by example and how it makes them feel to do these things.
Let me know if this resonates with you!
Xoxo
Natalie
Comments