Slow Giving

In this season of gratitude, I’d like to initiate a move towards Slow Giving, taking the time to savor every bit of the joy found in the precious moments we spend together, and bringing attentiveness to each opportunity we have to accept and to receive gifts.

As we all know, sometimes the thrill of the season can turn into a runaway rush. But we have the power to slow it all down, stemming that momentum for just a moment. It feels so right to ground ourselves, literally stopping the clock so that we can deeply receive the loving happiness of these days. A pause to enjoy a flavorful bite of a favorite holiday dish. A moment to look around the room with deep appreciation for all who are there, and for those who are missed. Just singing along out-loud with a favorite holiday tune!

We might bring the same intention into preparing our own gifts to give, tying on each ribbon while savoring everything we love about the person who will receive it. The gift doesn’t have to be perfect, but no matter what it is, it can hold our loving energy. In the same way, when receiving a gift ourselves, it might feel good to draw one simple breath before tearing in, resting in the radiance of the moment in order to absorb the intended generosity at the heart’s center.

Of course, on a bigger scale, this holistic practice can also open us to receiving the gifts that life showers down on us every day—the nutrients in our food, the cellular healing we receive in our sleep, and even the nurturing benefits of the plants blended into our favorite skincare formulations!

How true can we stay to that golden rule of giving—it’s the thought that counts. Each gift comes bearing a radiant energy, ours to accept, and, when we slow down, we can also cherish all the season’s beautifully un-wrapped gifts.

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