1. Nobility of thought or behavior; magnanimity.
2. Amplitude; abundance.
3. A generous act.

 

I want to start this by saying "What is Generosity?" and maybe that's appropriate as this is one of the last Stepping Stones I've written and to be honest I haven't known what it really was all about most of my life. Sure, I heared the word and thought it was about giving a little food or money to those without during the holidays--and though that type of generosity is necessary it doesn't breath life into our daily lives.

As with so many things I started with what I knew and I knew all about the holiday spirit (even if I was once admittedly a "Scrooge"). So I took that and started giving people gifts anytime during the year. Not only that, I found it a challenge to answer one simple question:

What would make this person truly happy today?

"Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly and well. Unless a character possesses this talent there is no moment more annihilating to ease than that in which a present is received and given." - Pamela Glenconner

I took it a step farther. Couldn't I be generous with more than hand made or store bought gifts? These things are nice and all but how about a kind word, a compliment, or better yet, receiving a compliment with sincere thanks! Peyton Conway March once wrote, "There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life--happiness, freedom, and peace of mind--are always attained by giving them to someone else."

See The Platinum Rule.

Jean De La Bruyère once wrote, "Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment."

Wow. That's one that's taken me years to get down. Why wait for Christmas if some Tuesday in the middle of September feels like a joyous holiday to give something wonderful to someone else?

Now lets take a spiritual and emotional leap of courage. Try this one out for size:

"Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do." - Kahlil Gibran

May we learn to live in this fashion now and always.