today is the day...to be like Marge. (an experience post.)

I want to be like Marge, so I looked around my house to find an item that I never wanted to give away…and then I gave it away anyway.  It was much harder than I thought it would be.  That vase…no, it looks really good on that shelf.  That painting…no way, I paid good money for that.  My pride and apparently my materialistic and egocentric self came out strong. 

I’m not proud. 

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in April I received so many beautiful gifts.  One “collection” I received was seven Willow Tree angels.  It was so weird.  I have seen them over the years and have liked them, but I haven’t received one as a gift or given them any thought in a loooonnnnngggg time.  But, I got seven of them…within six days.  They now sit atop my desk and look over me throughout the days. 

All eight of them. 

You see, I already had one.  It was a gift when Jeff and I got married almost eleven years ago.  And that sweet little angel was calling to me.  It was almost as if she was raising her hand saying, “Oh, oh!  Pick me!  Pick me!”  And so I did. 

I packed her in my bag and headed to work.  That afternoon a co-worker of mine was sitting at her desk and it just felt right.  I walked right up to her and confused the heck out of her!  I totally stumbled over my words and kind of danced around what I was giving her and why. 

Clearly a rehearsal would have been a good idea.

But then I took a breath and said, “I have had this angel for almost eleven years.  It was given to me when Jeff and I got married.  She’s been looking over me and now I want her to be with you.”  She smiled.  She was still somewhat confused.  “Okay, here is a website,” I wrote down my blog.  “This will make sense when you read the most recent entry.” 

So, I have clearly not mastered how to do all of these actions, but I am going to keep trying!  And I hope you are too.  This process, this today is the day thing that we’re doing, it amazes me.  I write and love it.  I wonder if anyone else does.  Suddenly a dozen of you pop up with comments to me about how something I have written touches you.  I smile.  I write an action.  I do it.  It doesn’t feel impactful and then, I get an email like this one from my co-worker, who now has my angel:

I just have to comment on the story about Marge, because last year I began doing those things. I gave my daughter a very special diamond and emerald ring given to me by her father and set in the mounting belonging to my mother.  She was overcome with joy and wears it constantly.  Every time I see her with the ring on her finger, it gives me more joy than I can ever express. I have been doing this for other members of the family.

It truly is a wonderful expression of love and legacy.

I thank you from the center of my heart for your kindness to me and for sharing this practice of

love.  I have found that every treasure I give away has a wonderful story with it and that can be almost as valuable as the gift itself.

I will remember your approach to me, your offering and your sweet face as you told me the story of how you happened by this angel which I now will add to my collection!  Thank you, thank you.

I think a lot of us are guilty in that we think that something didn’t matter unless we get a response.  no hug. no smile. no problem. is a perfect example. And so is this one.  Today is the day to remember that we can start a ripple effect of kindness and goodness even when we didn’t know that we cast the first wave. 

With that, I have a great glass blown paperweight that I love.  I am going to give it to a friend right now.  I don’t really want to, but I feel like I should, so I will.  Maybe I am just trying to prove to you, to myself, that I can do this and that I’m not really that self-centered.  I mean, really, I certainly have enough “stuff” to share.  Do you?

The question now is how should I start this one? “Hey, there was this old lady named Marge who gave her grandchildren everything…”  No.  “Um, I started that blog, you know and…”  No.  “This is one of my favorite and even though I didn’t really want to give it away, I…”  No.  Wish me luck.  This could take a while.