I Must Give In Order To Receive

I love sports – all kinds of sports. There is a quote from Maya Angelou that always catches my attention and I think it’s partly because it references baseball. The quote is "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back." Can you imagine trying to play a game of baseball with a mitt on both hands? It wouldn't work. It would be impossible to throw or control the baseball in any way. Well, imagine how it would be if we did try to get through life with a mitt on both hands. It would be uncomfortable and awkward. We need to be able to “throw something back”. I don’t want to spend my life taking from people and never giving back in return.

Life has taught me that I must give away what I have in order to keep it. I have learned that the more I give, the more I receive. I have been told this is a universal law, so as I give of my money, of my time, of my possessions, I seem to always get more in return. The return may not be exactly as I imagined it would be, but I always see results. I may give money to a person in need or a charity and receive some quality time with a friend as a result. It is not always an even exchange of money for money, or kindness for kindness, but there is always an exchange of some sort. The more I acknowledge this universal law, the clearer it becomes to me that I am getting so much in return. I have some very good friends who shared this concept with me because it worked for them too.

One of the most important lessons I have learned over the years is to follow the example of others. The people I surround myself with now are positive and upbeat. They choose to live in the solutions of life rather than in the problems. Living life as a victim may get people some attention, but in the long run, it does not usually work out well. So, when the positive friends in my life started to talk to me about this concept of "giving it away in order to keep it", I was ready to listen. It was working for them and I wanted it to work for me too. There is much to be said for doing what others do when you see it working in their lives.

I love giving back to others now. It has become a natural habit for me. I don't have to consciously look for the rewards to come back to me anymore either. I know they are coming to me and that is good enough for me. "Throwing something back" to the world is what makes me happy these days. All I need to do is share my experience, strength, and hope with others. God, the Universe, the Source - whatever name you give it - that is what is in charge of my results. The gifts I receive back are always priceless.

For 2012, I will continue to give of myself in any way possible. I will leave the results up to a Power greater than myself and trust in the process of this law of attraction. I hope you will join me this year in this pursuit. It could make for an amazing year of kindness and prosperity.