ClydeStyle

Tag: Generosity

  • The season of Gratitude

    December is here! We made it! This time of the year is really different for people in mourning. Whether you’re mourning the death of a person, place or thing it’s hard to be the celebratory happy that this season demands because of your grief.

    To maintain good mental health you need to make sure that you get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water. You must allow yourself time to be alone and make friends with the quiet.

    It’s important to validate your own feelings and take responsibility for your own happiness. Surround yourself with positive people who are doing incredible things.

    You also need a plan moving forward. It doesn’t mean you must plan to replace what was lost but it’s not a bad idea to consider the options. It also helps to assist others in their pursuit of happiness and even make someone else’s day if you can.

    And above everything else, thank God for what has happened, what tragedies didn’t happen and all the other things the creator consistently provided during this year. You deserve to be happy at times and to be loved and we serve a God that never stops loving us and provides all of our comfort! Trust him and be thankful!

  • You have real meaning with me

    Every now and then we should recognize those in our lives who help make things work. I’m taking about friends, family and co-workers that seem to be living part of their lives for you. They make sure you’re ok. They think of the small things you need and handle them. They are ready to throw hands for you and they always have an encouraging word.

    When it comes to you these people always see the glass half full. They are your built-in cheering team. In the world we live in everybody needs a supporting entourage. The point of this blog is that the people who are that for you need to be celebrated — more than once. It would be hard to imagine not having these unsung heroes in your life. There are many who are not blessed to have the right support network and they fall under the weight and pressures of the world.

    I owe the majority of my success in life to people who thought enough of me to make sure my “T’s” were crossed and my “I’s” were dotted. I could bounce ideas off these folks, they did the majority of my research and they helped me to be who I was meant to be. For me it’s the little things as these do-gooders made sure I ate healthy, had plenty of sleep, had plenty of relaxation and although I solved all the problems, I never did it alone.

    It’s important for people not to feel taken advantage of or feel that their work is in vain. These people aren’t looking for credit or any fame … they just believe in you. How do you let them know that they have real meaning in your life? If you take these people for granted you will find yourself by yourself!

    The great guru Bruce Lee said that words are energy and are like casting spells (this is why it’s called spelling) and you will become who you say you are. All positive people with have lots of positivity in their lives. The converse is also true. So express yourself in the most humble way you know how and let those in your corner know that you see their work and acknowledge their efforts!

  • Share the God in you

    It takes a special type of person to give.

    There are enough stingy, stubborn folks in the world and what we clearly need to see more of is that good ole’ fashioned, unconditional giving.

    Many things have been written and said about givers or volunteers, as they are sometimes called. I had the privilege to speak at a volunteer symposium hosted in Bay City, MI and sponsored by the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. I had the opportunity to meet some seniors who really knew how to live. They understood the meaning of “good living” as they were at retirement age, but still working – yet this time for free.

    There are not many things in our world that are free. In fact, when you see something truly free, you do a double take because it looks too good to be true. I remember when air was free at any gas station. I also watched as the cost went from being just 25 cents to $1.00 in some places. Well, the other day I needed a little air in my tire and I immediately fished through my coins to find four quarters. I got out of my truck and low and behold there was nowhere to put the coins. I thought, “go figure, it would be broken.” I’m glad I took a chance, because it was actually free. I couldn’t believe it. Now this gas station is in Farmington Hills, MI and it more than makes up for the price of air with all the other items in the store. It seems they added a penny or two to every item to cover the cost of air, but that’s another story.

    I bring the issue up of volunteering because I wonder how many people really understand the spiritual dynamics of giving. First, giving is a God trait. You know the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave …” Secondly, the Good Book tells us that it is more blessed to give than receive. Many people miss this concept. You see, if you can give, you’ve already been blessed. And finally, giving brings us face-to-face with our covetousness. When you live in a land as bountiful as ours, we tend to never get enough. We take, take, take and never even think about giving until we have a holiday that tells us to give.

    Givers are the people who recognize and exalt more their standing with God over their status with the world. They believe that their existence is much more than what they can accumulate. They seek out ways to change other people’s lives for the better – and they do it just for the way it makes them feel.

    Try unconditional giving this week. Allow your blessings in life to be shared with others who truly need it. Whether you are giving of your means or time, both are precious and they represent the God in you. So please, share.