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Daily Question, February 16

How can I use my blessings to improve someone else’s life?

  • Malag

    Am at a time in life where I am looking for a charitable cause to devote some time. But in the meantime there are so many micro opportunities even just a smile, a moment of shared connection. May I see those opportunities more.

    I wrote the above before seeing Dusty Su’s contribution. What better than a smile but a dose of laughter: yes. Also Ed’s whole smile, not the fake one.

  • Eva
    I am being blessed by having been seen by incredible spiritual teachers who are truly dedicated to bringing loving kindness and loving awareness to all people. Their teachings and words are not a lip service, and I am deeply awestruck by the fact that they are walking their talks. I can’t be them, but I can certainly follow their examples and practice seeing the true nature of people I encounter instead of understanding people by their occupations, economic status, marital status, health statu...

    I am being blessed by having been seen by incredible spiritual teachers who are truly dedicated to bringing loving kindness and loving awareness to all people. Their teachings and words are not a lip service, and I am deeply awestruck by the fact that they are walking their talks. I can’t be them, but I can certainly follow their examples and practice seeing the true nature of people I encounter instead of understanding people by their occupations, economic status, marital status, health status, gender, race, education, country of origin, etc. I can also keep working on and keep my eye out for the places my own prejudice show up. I don’t want to be oblivious to my own prejudice because they hurt our society. If I can reduce my judgement and prejudice, then I can contribute to improving someone else’s life by connecting more with that person. It’s easy to fall into the mode of a do-gooder – subconsciously believing somehow I am superior in some ways than the other person, and I can do some good to this individual. When I come from that place, I am still placing an invisible wall between me and the other person. I wouldn’t improve anyone’s life even when I thought I did some good to some people if I’m still just a do-gooder.

    Read More
  • Hot Sauce

    By giving them away! Ultimately, a lot of the material stuff I accumulate was fun while it lasted, but I think I can focus on caring for my spiritual, bodily, and mental health more and give the extra “stuff” I have to those who really need it.

  • Okumo

    By being kind and attentive to them

  • Annalise

    By staying kind and spreading love, to everyone I’m surrounded by. Creating a welcoming environment around myself to make others feel safe and comforted in my presence. I am blessed to have good health, a home, and a strong support system, my biggest blessing I can give is to offer that to others in my life.

  • Tahsin Tabassum

    by telling them they are blessed too in other ways !

  • schubert123

    As one from the medical field, I am blessed for having the opportunity to learn, educate myself, and develop a skillset that I can use to help others.

  • Ose

    In the long run, possibly through my writing; going on with accompanying people in substantial ways; calling my parents, praying and sending them love and healing energy as well as to all my friends; donating to organizations I cherish to multiply improving the life of others; humbly aware of the gift of being able to give.

  • Samuel

    God has blessed me with sufficient resources to live comfortably (not extravagantly!) and still dedicate some of same to others less fortunate. I do this through donations of money and material goods to my church, various charitable organizations, and needy individuals. I also donate my time and efforts through volunteer work of various kinds, and by running errands for and transporting others who lack other means of getting around…
    sb

  • Cailinrua
    In the past, I have been able to make charitable donations, but for several years I have had to cut back and give to just one group. I have been taking care of my adult daughter, who is recovering, and that takes just about all of my time. This period has been fraught with my exhaustion, anger, resentment, impatience, fear, sadness, you-name-it. I got sucked into the vortex of her dysfunctional relationship with her husband; and instead of feeling empowered and that I had blessings to offer...

    In the past, I have been able to make charitable donations, but for several years I have had to cut back and give to just one group. I have been taking care of my adult daughter, who is recovering, and that takes just about all of my time. This period has been fraught with my exhaustion, anger, resentment, impatience, fear, sadness, you-name-it. I got sucked into the vortex of her dysfunctional relationship with her husband; and instead of feeling empowered and that I had blessings to offer, I became depleted and weak and negative. It’s been a true wake-up call for me. I’m slowly beginning to turn things around, I think. She has also taught me a lot along the way. Moving from darkness to light, from negative energy to positive energy when ego, and anger and resentment block the route, is a real challenge.

    Read More
    • Cathy

      I value your insight, Cailinrua. You are living through something so horrifying that most of us cannot begin to imagine it, yet you’ve discovered something else. Your experiences during this challenging move from the negative to the positive are personal, yet so helpful to others when you share them. May you share what you are comfortable with, knowing the strength and understanding you impart is healing for others.

  • Elizabeth M Jones

    I can encourage other immigrants. I can visit those who are sick and I can write letters to those who are lonely.

  • Antoinette

    Volunteer as much as I can and donate to organizations and people who need help with their expensive hospital bills. I really hope the USA soon finds a reasonable solution to the serious healthcare problems! I pray that all people have access to affordable healthcare.

  • Mica

    Charitable donations is what comes to mind after a bit of thought. Charity quilts for infants, but I make few of those. Friendly smiles. In one case, sadly, cutting off all contact for now is what I need to do to give someone’s life space to improve.

    • Dear Mica, maybe this “cutting off” will not be forever. Hold on with hope, try to focus on those little things in your life that you love, those that bring pleasure and joy to your days.
      Be confident, all shall be well.

      • Mica

        Thank you, Anna – indeed I trust this is temporary. They live only a few blocks from me and is a close family member. I’m grateful for online therapy now and for the beautiful sunset I just enjoyed. Hugs!!

    • Samuel

      Bless you, Mica. It’s a hard lesson to swallow, for sure, for someone with a loving, giving heart. But sometimes, it’s the things we DON’T do for certain others that are the kindest, most meaningful gifts of all…
      sb

      • Mica

        Thank you, Samuel. ‘SB’ is the initials of one of my dear sisters in law.

        • Samuel

          Mica,
          Guess that means I’m in good company!
          s/Samuel Brandt aka: sb ???

    • Ed Schulte

      Yes, I was thinking …my recent donation at the Canadian Blood Donors Clinic fits into the “blessings” count too.

      Simply because the intelligences which construct and maintain this physical body do such good work to keep it healthy and “share-able!

      All I had to be was walk it to the clinic!

  • Debra

    Laugh. Sing. Listen. And love.

    • Samuel

      Especially LOVE…
      Love will naturally lead the way to numerous other good things…
      sb

      • Debra

        sb, yes, it does and will. Call me a romantic. Love is everywhere you want it to be. Sometimes the Universe has a different time schedule, that’s all.

        • Samuel

          Debra, you’re a romantic! And that’s a GOOD thing! We need more romantics to balance out all the Nay-sayers and Deniers…

  • Michele

    My children are my blessings. My life is improved because of each of them. I’m sure they improve many different relationships that they have be it family, friends, co workers. By the way, I feel not all lives need to be improved. This seems like a downer to me.

  • Anneclaire

    I think I might reflect some of what others have given me that has helped me heal.

    Acceptance, warmth, appreciation, gentleness, understanding …

  • at times I take care of my mother who suffers from dementia. when she wakes in morning, her mood is often not so good. I am often able to cheer her up, cause moods are just like mist, temporarily clouding the sun. since I was taught this and am able to observe it myself when I feel moody, I feel confident in cheering her up. I tell stories from my siblings and from her grandchildrens life, remind her of family gatherings, show her pictures from the ocean or from mountains – landscapes that she...

    at times I take care of my mother who suffers from dementia. when she wakes in morning, her mood is often not so good. I am often able to cheer her up, cause moods are just like mist, temporarily clouding the sun. since I was taught this and am able to observe it myself when I feel moody, I feel confident in cheering her up. I tell stories from my siblings and from her grandchildrens life, remind her of family gatherings, show her pictures from the ocean or from mountains – landscapes that she loves – or from pets she had in her long life. it’s almost certain that within no time there is a smile on her face. isn’t it wonderful that in my mother’s smile my teachers wisdom becomes manifest ??

    Read More
    • Ed Schulte
      And not only is it "wonderful" { no surprise } your sharing brings a smile :-) and is a Blessing! because it ( the action of smiling ) is so important to overall heath. THANKS for sharing! :-) And recalling now "When You're Smiling the whole world smiles with you" Very very popular song written in 1929, one of the first I learned to sing along to one the radio And RUMI didn't hold back ....he covers the whole body principle behind "smile" So all Blessings to him too! "...

      And not only is it “wonderful” { no surprise } your sharing brings a smile 🙂 and is a Blessing! because it ( the action of smiling ) is so important to overall heath.

      THANKS for sharing! 🙂

      And recalling now

      “When You’re Smiling the whole world smiles with you”

      Very very popular song written in 1929, one of the first I learned to sing along to one the radio

      And RUMI didn’t hold back ….he covers the whole body principle behind “smile” So all Blessings to him too!

      “I smile like a flower not only with my lips but with my whole being.”
      RUMI

      And, just too bring back a note from last week …..while reinforces Rumi’s point about the “whole body smiles”

      The oldest living male …In an interview last year, Watanabe said his secret to longevity is
      “not to get angry and keep a smile on your face.”

      www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/the-worlds-oldest-living-man-is-112-his-secret-is-to-just-keep-smiling-and-never-get-angry/ar-BBZVSIP?li=AAggNb9

      Read More

      • to make someone smile is a blessing, thank you Ed!

        • Ed Schulte
          AND THANKS! Verena for sharing your moments with your mother. I didn't want to take the subject to far, this is not the place, I just felt Rumi's "whole body smile" was worth bringing up because The "smile" ( as it is commonly called now ) has been turned in a commercial weapon to "to sell and make $$ " in western culture ... but "whole body smiling" has a very strong connection to ...Matt 6:22 "If thine eye be single, thy body will be full of light" The church authorities used "singl...

          AND THANKS! Verena for sharing your moments with your mother.

          I didn’t want to take the subject to far, this is not the place, I just felt Rumi’s “whole body smile” was worth bringing up because The “smile” ( as it is commonly called now ) has been turned in a commercial weapon to “to sell and make $$ ” in western culture

          … but “whole body smiling” has a very strong connection to …Matt 6:22 “If thine eye be single, thy body will be full of light”

          The church authorities used “single” in their translation but the more accurate english word is ” Integrous” which implies “in one with the source”.

          When humans gain back their ability to “see” with their ‘Integrous eye’…(aka “The third Eye”) then they will be able to tell if they see an Integrous Smile or a non-truthful smile because they will also be seeing the light aura of the whole body as well. Is it balanced, harmonious through out …Or??

          And this ability will put and end to all the “political smiles” and “political talk” going on in the world.

          Be Well Be Present

          EdS

          Read More
  • reality

    As the blessings that originate in me are not mine, for, there is no mine or me, I do not ‘use’ them- as they aren’t mine to ‘use’. In every evolving moment I try and be that moment’s potential for communal, relational, individual evolutionary growth; which allows my abilities to correspond with others needs naturally. So far, for there yet, by Thy’s Grace, go i ? reality

  • devy

    I will keep the question in mind as the day goes by. When I am thankful for my blessings, I will try to connect how I can help others.

  • Kevin

    As a person, minister and Quaker, with a sustained call to minister to others in need as way opens, I refer to this work as a “joyous burden.” Joyous because it is a gift that shows me the way to respond to other people and entities in need, and a burden because the experience of “call” is not one that I can or would ever ignore. For me, the “blessing” is understanding and using this gift for the betterment of others.

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