The Gift That Keeps On Giving

You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give. -Winston Churchill

The concept behind giving and receiving during one's life is an idea my father and I have discussed on many occasion. My father has always taught me that whenever you encounter someone, whether they be a new acquaintance or an old friend, it is important to be aware of the gifts being given and received over the course of the interaction. Now when I say "gifts" I don't necessarily mean something tangible. A gift can be all kinds of things. A smile, a hug, a friendly conversation, these are only scratching the surface of the ways in which one can give to another during everyday life.
When giving and receiving a gift, remember to try the best you can to remain judgement free. Judgement is driven by our egos and our egos love nothing more than convincing us something is better than something else. There is no better or worse, there only is. Thus appreciate every gift you give and as well as every gift you receive.
That old cliche, "it is the thought that counts," hits the nail directly on the head. It is the act of giving and receiving that matters, not what is being given. Today I am going to give a gift to everyone I meet, and I'm going to willingly receive and appreciate all gifts given to me without passing judgement.