http://www.gnorb.net/715/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits In your head it's only a memory, but written down it's working knowledge Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.gnorb.net/715/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits/comment-page-1#comment-13579 Gnorb.NET » Blog Archive » I Believe in Santa Claus Thu, 14 Dec 2006 20:29:44 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20061212/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits/#comment-13579 [...] In a previous post, I mentioned that I have a guilty feeling every Christmas morning when I open presents. This feeling has led to the interesting tradition of me opening my gifts then taking them to my room to study them and enjoy them alone. As I write this, I realize I may have just found the reason why I do this. [...] [...] In a previous post, I mentioned that I have a guilty feeling every Christmas morning when I open presents. This feeling has led to the interesting tradition of me opening my gifts then taking them to my room to study them and enjoy them alone. As I write this, I realize I may have just found the reason why I do this. [...]

]]> http://www.gnorb.net/715/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits/comment-page-1#comment-13296 Gnorb Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:43:15 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20061212/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits/#comment-13296 Thanks for the vote of kindness, bloglily. It makes me feel like a bit less of a materialistic weeny. And you're right, it would be a better place if we learned how to give (and receive) graciously. I wish others would realize that the act of not giving usually stems from the fear of not having something, and that to have a fear of missing something is to be missing it anyway. (Kahil Gibran said it much more eloquently in <cite>The Prophet</cite>.) - On a related note, it looks like the example set by my parents of being great gift givers has rubbed off on more than one kid: I just found out my younger sister will be buying the Christmas presents for a her friend's kids, since otherwise they'd have no presents Christmas morning. I guess sometimes people in need are closer than we think. - Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukah) to you too, bloglily. Thanks for the vote of kindness, bloglily. It makes me feel like a bit less of a materialistic weeny. And you’re right, it would be a better place if we learned how to give (and receive) graciously. I wish others would realize that the act of not giving usually stems from the fear of not having something, and that to have a fear of missing something is to be missing it anyway. (Kahil Gibran said it much more eloquently in The Prophet.)
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On a related note, it looks like the example set by my parents of being great gift givers has rubbed off on more than one kid: I just found out my younger sister will be buying the Christmas presents for a her friend’s kids, since otherwise they’d have no presents Christmas morning. I guess sometimes people in need are closer than we think.
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Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukah) to you too, bloglily.

]]> http://www.gnorb.net/715/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits/comment-page-1#comment-13289 bloglily Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:25:03 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20061212/the-spirit-of-giving-or-the-best-intentions-are-often-subject-to-old-habits/#comment-13289 A lovely, inspiring post. And don't be so hard on yourself. You've done something for someone else. If everyone did just that, we'd all be better off, both givers and receivers. Happy holidays to you and your wife. A lovely, inspiring post. And don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve done something for someone else. If everyone did just that, we’d all be better off, both givers and receivers. Happy holidays to you and your wife.

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