I spoke to a woman a few days ago. We did not know each other. She had given birth to a baby boy 8 months ago. She spoke to me about her physical and emotional struggles. Other people in her life were telling her that there was something wrong with her and she was getting worried that she might need help. This caused her more worry and anxiety because she didn't exactly know what kind of help she needed.
She told me about some of the feelings she was having towards her baby and her husband. Her struggle was to find the explanations or reasons as to why she felt this way. It was this lack of clarity that was causing her the most turmoil. She was second guessing her own feelings because other people (perhaps unintentionally) were telling her that there was something wrong with her. If you put anyone in this situation, would they not feel a loss of control? I was unsure as to how to help ease this woman’s pain in the moment, so I tried to listen to her to see where she would guide me. Instead of focusing on what I thought I was supposed to do, I decided to make a better effort to practice compassion. And when I decided to do that, something unexplainable occurred. The woman started to cry tears of relief. I felt her anxieties and worry melt away. I felt a blessing being bestowed upon both of us. I felt a mother being able to comfort her baby now that she was feeling some relief within herself. Now that she understood that there wasn’t anything wrong with her, she could take back the part of herself she thought she was losing. She told me that she had tried for days, but was unable to cry until that moment. Her relief relieved me. I felt as if she had reached out to me and I was lucky enough to be there to receive. I was moved by this good woman. It is the best gift I got this year.
We often forget the true meaning of a gift. A true gift resonates from within us and has eternal life. A gift brings us closer to others and in the process reveals to ourselves the things we so easily forget. It puts us in a vulnerable state to reveal the purest part of ourselves that we often try to hide from others. It is these gifts that are not wrapped up nicely and put under the tree. Often these gifts come in unexpected and disguised forms, sometimes painful to see. Hence, they can be easily overlooked and forgotten. We even try to fight them. I will try to remember them more often so I can share these gifts with the people who I experience in life.
As the holidays come to an end, I have redefined my personal definition of ‘gift’. A gift is not greater than you or I. In fact, it is you and I. And it is within reach. I think this is the most important lesson I’ve learned this year. It’s funny that I wasn’t even going to write about any of this, but I felt I had to.
“One must know not just how to accept a gift, but with what grace to share it.”
- Maya Angelou
We often forget the true meaning of a gift. A true gift resonates from within us and has eternal life. A gift brings us closer to others and in the process reveals to ourselves the things we so easily forget. It puts us in a vulnerable state to reveal the purest part of ourselves that we often try to hide from others. It is these gifts that are not wrapped up nicely and put under the tree. Often these gifts come in unexpected and disguised forms, sometimes painful to see. Hence, they can be easily overlooked and forgotten. We even try to fight them. I will try to remember them more often so I can share these gifts with the people who I experience in life.
As the holidays come to an end, I have redefined my personal definition of ‘gift’. A gift is not greater than you or I. In fact, it is you and I. And it is within reach. I think this is the most important lesson I’ve learned this year. It’s funny that I wasn’t even going to write about any of this, but I felt I had to.
“One must know not just how to accept a gift, but with what grace to share it.”
- Maya Angelou