One Small Thing

Yes, this blog and my book, Dancing Under the Full Moon, is about attracting abundance into our lives. And, very often, we interpret abundance as money or tangible material goods. Just for today, just for this particular season of giving, I'd like to challenge each of us to interpret abundance as that feeling we get when we do something unexpected for someone else.

I try to help out, to give to friends and family, my time, my energy, even my flawed wisdom. But every now and then, I extend that reach to a stranger. And, boy, does that feel wonderful. There was this time, in the heat of the summer, when I was traveling through a not-so-safe part of town, but I needed to stop and pick up a bottle of water. So I did. The local store was about the size of a Seven Eleven and there were only a handful of shoppers.

I had just written an article for a client newsletter about giving, similar to this one and it struck me: time to put your money where your mouth is. Walk the talk, so to speak. So I glanced around and saw this couple with a daughter about seven years old. She wore a sundress and sandels, her skin was a beautiful shade of brown and her black hair was braided with funky beads. Her wide eyes scanned the goodies on the shelves while her parents were very obviously being careful about what they purchased.

"She's adorable," I told the mother.

"Thanks," she replied and kept shopping while she kept on eye on me as I said hello to the girl.

"Hot out there," I continued and then moved close to the mother so the girl wouldn't hear me. Nothing worse than undermining a mother in front of her daughter. "I'd love to buy your daughter an ice cream," I said.

She just looked at me. "I just feel like it," I smiled. "She's so cute, so well-behaved and I feel like treating her. Is that okay?"

She could have said no. She could have felt like I was somehow trying to be superior, but instead, she thought for a minute, nodded and offered a soft smile as she looked at her husband for agreement.

"Sure," she said. "Why not?"

So Kaylee and I spent five minutes examining all the ice cream cones and bars in the cooler until she picked the one she wanted.

I paid. She grinned. I left. And it felt so good. A cool moment on a sweltering afternoon. The gift of abundance was mine in a small act that cost less than $3.00 and the rewards have lasted season after season.

Today's challenge: do something small and unexpected for  a complete stranger. Post their reaction and how it made you feel. The gift of giving creates a circle of wealth for everyone involved.- ps