Gifts of Sharing, Loving, Giving & Caring: Ways to Share Your Time, Service & Self

Have you ever wondered how to become closer to another individual? Or perhaps you just wanted to find a way to let them know you cared and they mattered to you.

There are many ways of sharing you self with another person that is a form of giving and reaching out in care, loving with love. It is always about your underlying intention behind any effort put forth.

Here are some examples of this that may help inspire some of your own.

Gifting of your time with someone you care about can be interpreted as valuable. Spending one on one time where you are intentional on hearing what that person has to share or to offer; how their day or week has been or a particular event. Perhaps the quality of your time with that person is spent by doing something that person enjoys doing, regardless if it is a favorite pass time or event of your or not; taking time to enjoy the event and the person, because you are with that individual and knowing this person is enjoying it, creates the value and quality that becomes memorable and priceless, without a desire for return for your efforts to be with this person or extending outreach for some one else's interests that were not your own. This is a selfless act and in that alone, is the true blessing and reward for all involved.

Another manner to gift of time, is doing specific tasks to be helpful to some one else or acts of service. Gifting of your time by helping another person with a task around their home, working on a project, school work, church event or event preparing a meal or cleaning up after can hold value to the person in need and still hold quality between you and that person by sharing the time and effort together. Other forms of service could also be providing care to a person who is not well, such as making a meal or keeping them comfortable or a trip to the doctor; perhaps a massage, foot rub or back/shoulder massage. The goal is an opportunity to be intentional about providing a service to the one you intend to help and even spend time with or just assist, with genuine intent and not require any return service. When your heart is open to being available to another to care for another's need, then the blessing is experienced in the opportunity for all involved.

Giving of gifts with the focus and thought of the person's interest, likes and personality in mind whom you are giving to, as a form of sharing and outreach can also be rewarding. The key here is to keep your intention on what the person enjoys verses what you think they should have or should enjoy because you do or want them to, in order for the gift in giving of things to be a true selfless gift and received in the spirit and intention of someone who intends to express care, interest and thoughtfulness of the one you are gifting. In doing so, you demonstrate a selfless act that allows you and the other person to truly appreciate the underlying meaning of the exchange.

Often what many appreciate in daily life, as we exchange in communication by body language, facial expressions, the tone of voice and by the words we speak is, gifting another with kind and caring words on a consistent basis. The simplest form, which we tend to teach children, yet at times as adults and in our relationships we will become absent minded or choose to forget, are our manners, which we can be conscientious and with our loved ones say "please" to ask for something instead of demanding or insisting; we can choose to say "thank you" when we receive that item, or something is done for us; we can say "excuse me" instead of pushing or yelling or saying, "get out of the way" and being rude or getting impatient. These are considered words of affirmation. Other examples would be acknowledging the other individual a various ways. It is best for you to take time to pay attention to the person you intend to be share time with, be closer to and intend to demonstrate genuine care. In this example your gift of words will demonstrate that you are genuinely paying attention to this individual and taking care out side of yourself; selfless in order to be intentionally in tune and with and aware of the other. Some ideas however may be to notice (if this is something that might be meaningful to that person) what the person is wearing, how their hair is styled, how they are doing in their job (if co-worker), how the home looks, how a meal tastes, appreciation for working and providing, or taking care of the yard or children. This is a gift that you can be very creative and selfless when you are intentional and speak from the heart and pay attention to those you love from that perspective.

In summary, when your heart is open and you are intentional, reaching within to reach out is simple and easy to demonstrate love and care to another. You can choose to be creative with random acts of kindness. Start with those closest to you, then reach out to those in your community. In this manner you will find the ability to be consistent and genuine, without questioning your own abilities or need to be affirmed just to give to another; you will be able to appreciate the reward in doing alone.