Tags
compassion, gifts, good deeds, gratitude, inspiration, joy, kindness, life, love
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man,
but he is brave five minutes longer.
– RALPH WALDO EMERSON
So it’s Week 28, and a bit of an inner roller coaster for me. And it’s par for the season I guess – lots of reflection and looking to the future, and what am I doing with my life, and what does life really want from me etc etc. I acknowledge here and now that the balance is definitely in favour of Good Deeds received this week, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable and humble, but I can also say with all sincerity that I did do my best.
My ongoing and every increasing thanks to…
http://rosieamber.wordpress.com
the inspiration for these posts.
For other Good Deeds posts I’ve written, including the original, please check out:
Sunday 24th November
Chopped a couple of logs into kindling so that making fires would be easier for the rest of the week. Popped round to one of our neighbours to confirm that we could give their grandson a lift to and from his school play on Friday. Finished my first crocheted Christmas gift! Took my lemon balm in, putting it in a pot in the lounge for the winter, as it doesn’t like being left outside through the cold temperatures.
AND good deed(s) received:
Was given a lovely cup of tea by our neighbour, and a wonderful hug from her soon to be 8 year old grandson!
Monday 25th November
Helped my Mum with writing an announcement for the community newsletter about prices at the Juice Bar/Creperie. Started another crocheted Christmas present, and made lunch for Mum and I. Had a great chat with my brother, celebrating some good news with him.
AND good deed(s) received:
Mum brought me back some delicious fresh profiteroles that had been served in the community kitchen that evening, where she had been cooking.
Tuesday 26th November
Hung Mum’s wash and did the shopping. Gave ‘writer me’ some dedicated creative time, which I REALLY enjoyed:-)
AND good deed(s) received:
Received a sweet text from a friend about sharing the harvested ‘giant’ veg from the community garden which we blessed last Friday.
Wednesday 27th November
I agreed to postpone a meeting with a friend who’s writing a book, as she felt she hadn’t written enough more to make it worthwhile meeting again yet. Created a really fun English lesson for a mother and son, including writing winter/Christmas themed acrostic poems and making paper snowflakes (after deciphering the instructions:-) Squeezed in a final lesson with a student who is returning to Spain at the weekend.
AND good deed(s) received:
The boy I taught gave me his snowflake which had eyes and a mouth picked out in sparkling silver glitter! During a chat with a friend for whom I occasionally clean, I shared that I was yearning for a clearly defined passion and purpose in my life again, I wanted to serve – to which he responded that I WAS serving him:-) Received a VERY lovely email from a dear friend, which touched me to tears (she owes me a box of Kleenex…) and made me feel incredibly seen and loved.
Thursday 28th November
Made soup for lunch for Mum and I, and began making a special advent gift for a friend who is turning 60 soon. Good Deed to me…listening to a deep inner need, I applied for a two week silent work retreat at a Buddhist Centre in South Devon, England in February next year. I’m very excited. It’s called Gaia House, and is a fabulous place to deeply connect with peace, source and insight. I’ve been twice before, but it’s been five years since the last time I was there…
AND good deed(s) received:
Received a warm and swift response from a friend whom I’d reached out to – I need a heart to heart. She agreed to meet tomorrow!
Friday 29th November
Finished the advent gift I was making, together with my mother. Finished the birthday card I’d begun making for our neighbour, and took it over to have a cup of tea with him and wish him a happy birthday. Made dinner for Mum and I.
AND good deed(s) received:
Was gifted with two very loving, deep and wise conversations with two very dear friends. Being held and seen and heard, in full freedom to speak what was in my heart, including the tough stuff with no fear of judgement or rejection…wow, I’m sooooo lucky to have such friends…and to have two hours with each of them…in one day!!! Oh, and the almond croissant didn’t go down badly either:-) When I got back, Mum and I went out to deliver a present and card to a neighbour who was turning eight that day. I was so touched when he looked at my homemade card, gave a sharp intake of breath, and said, ‘That’s beautiful!’ So sweet:-) Sorry, forgot to take a photo…
Saturday 30th November
Sent a text to one of the friends I’d chatted to yesterday, thanking her and wishing her well at the craft fair today, where she will be selling some of her beautiful clay creations. Helped Mum prepare a very special dinner to fundraise for a local affordable housing initiative. It was delicious, and we certainly had fun – a huge success:-) Sent an email to a very special friend to let her know a package she’d sent me had arrived – I’m so excited! But I’m NOT allowed to open it yet, as it’s for Sinterklaas (a Dutch seasonal tradition, celebrated on 5th December).
AND good deed(s) received:
A heavy and exciting, in a box shaped, soundless ‘not giving anything away’ kinda way, package arrived for me!!! A friend I bumped into decided to join us in the kitchen and help us cook, just for the joy of catching up. It was really fun to spend time together, and it ended up being a really big job, so goodness knows what we would have done without her! Mum agreed to leave the house much earlier than she’d planned tomorrow to give me a lift to the writing workshop I’m holding, because my car made some very loud and scary noises on the way home tonight, and I won’t be able to use it tomorrow…
…life – the journey and the learning and the mystery and the beauty – continues:-)
Wishing you all a wonderful week dear friends:-)
wordsthatserve 
so many wonderful acts of kindness
certainly inspiring me to be kinder
next week 🙂
may you car gently reveal her difficulty
without much suffering.
Thank you dear friend – how did you know know my car was a girl?;-)
I call her Grace:-) Thanks for the good wishes…and may you enjoy a week of loving kindness. With much metta…Harula xxx
This was lovely to read, it’s good to be able to receive as well as give. I’ve never heard of Sinterklaas, it sounds fun. Good luck with the car, have a great week and know that you do good and it is appreciated. Love Rosie
Thanks so much for this sweet comment Rosie – it is good to receive too, I know. Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of St Nicholas and involves lots of sweets and chocolate – hooray! Thanks for the good luck for Grace (my car, I name them:-) and may the great week you wish me come back to you ten fold – until next Sunday dear friend. Hugs, Harula xxxxx
I agree with Rosie that it’s good to be able to receive as well as give. A good deed received is always a good deed done at the same time, I believe. For it gives the giver of the deed so much joy when their gift is being received. And you do that open-heartedly! Enjoy Sinterklaas my dear. Xx
Thanks for this sweet wisdom dear one, and you’re right – that’s my experience too when give me the gift of receiving whatever it is I’m offering. You too – happy Sinterklaas for Thursday. Love and hugs to you oh talented and inspiring one, Harula xxxxxx
It’s good that we have friends with whom we can share so very deeply, especially those parts of ourselves that feel so fragile and humble and confused and challenged. I think we’re very lucky indeed to have friends with ears who can listen to it all–and not turn away. Thank you, also, for your comment on my blog about conflict. I don’t respond to comments–except on certain posts–these days. After 3-4 years of responding to every comment daily I completely ran out of steam. But some comments really make me think and feel deeply, and yours always do that. Thank you, Harula. P.S. The retreat sounds wonderful. To carve a space to connect with the depth of what we truly are.
You’re right there Kathy:-) I feel sooooo blessed by the friendships I have, I really do, that can make me feel safe and whole again in moments when I feel anything but. No worries, I understand that it’s a lot to respond to so many comments – but it’s lovely to know my responses to your wonderful posts grow the field of thought and feeling you began by writing what you did. Oh yes, the retreat! The moment I have confirmation I’m making a countdown chart to put on my wall so I can tick off the days!!! Love and grateful hugs, Harula xxxx
Another good week Harula!
I love receiving but I have to confess Im a better giver 😊
I cant drive anymore now but my almost son in law has my car, my “purple people eater” ! One of my daughters calls her car Bluebell which I think is lovely! And I love the name Grace 😊
Have a good week; we are just about to put up our tree with our 3year old grandson, Theo. he is bringing a big bag of decorations he has made to hang on it! Should be good fun 😊
Xxx
Thanks Christine. How lovely to prepare the tree with you grandson, blessing it with the beauty of home made decorations…precious! Hope it’s now standing, pretty and proud where you can all enjoy it. I do think it helps to name cars – I felt soooooo taken care of by my first car, when I was still growing into the excellent driver I am now;-) He was called Harry. I think it’s often easier to give than receive…but we do a service to the world by allowing life’s gifts to come to us and consciously receive them. I’ll keep practicing:-) Love and hugs, Harula xxxxxx
Glad to be catching up with you and yours. Do you know that when I am here with you I always feel centered and peaceful? Thank you. xo
Bless you Patti – what finer compliment could I receive. May that peaceful centered feeling grow and surround you whenever you choose for it to. Again, thanks for dropping by and catching up.
Love and blessings, Harula xxxxx