Allowing our gifts to flow

We all have so much to give!

Sometimes it's hard to accept because of a tendency to undervalue ourselves or because we get caught up in comparing ourselves to others.
Each one of us is unique and we each bring unique qualities and gifts to our world!
Could that be why we are here in the first place?

What if one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to really understand and embody the unique gifts we have?

We are living in times when our world calls for us to share our gifts!
It feels like we are being called to show our authenticity and to spread beauty, innocence and love.
We can do this through small gestures like a smile or an encouraging word.
Everything counts and can have a positive effect on someone else.  

The short story that follows here came about during a conversation around how we, within the Earthaconter Community, can share a sense of what it feels like to be part of the community. We discussed how we could do that authentically and we decided to offer a flow of gifts from our hearts with the intention of inspiring others to do the same. This story is inspired by Mark's experience of watching flowers being carried on the current on the Backwaters in Kerala in southern India.

A Flow of Gifts

A dragonfly hovers intently, as if curiously observing the young woman here at the edge of the river.
Running her hands down her hair, she squeezes the moisture from her shoulder-length strands following her swim.

The air is still yet fresh this May morning.
Bees going about their business, doves cooing their contentedness with the day
and a heady cocktail of scent from earthy nettle, thyme and lilac, all effortlessly co-create a sense of peace and harmony.

The river is deep and calm.

The young woman’s attention is drawn to something colourful floating on its dark surface.

She leans out and plucks it from its watery bearer.

Delicate and intact she cups it with both hands bringing it closer to her face so she can fully appreciate its beauty.
Large pearly-white, almost translucent petals hold space for pale-lemon stigma at the centre.
It offers the sweetest scent despite its travels.

This water-borne gift brings so much joy and wonder to the young woman
and she is moved to delicately secure it in her dark hair, above her left ear.

All at once her eye is again drawn to movement on the surface of the water.
Another flower, another gift offers itself within an arm-stretch.
Just as she picks it out of the water, she notices more colour on the inky surface of the steady current.

She looks up and her eye follows the colourful, scented procession upstream to see if she can determine its source.
Not seeing anything obvious she quickly turns her attention to plucking more of the hand-sized flowers from the river,
mindful to create a garland with the beautiful gifts coming her way.

A tear of joy cascades down her left cheek,
evidence maybe of a heart full to overflowing with love and appreciation.

Our invitation to you.

What if, when we slow down and become receptive, there are countless gifts coming our way?
In our haste and preoccupation, we miss them or we haven’t become the person who feels they deserve them.  

What if you are already enough and worthy to receive them?
You don’t have to do anything other than to let go and receive.

We would also love for you to join us in sharing some beauty, innocence and love into the world!
This could be a photograph you have taken, an uplifting thought, a poem, a song, anything that could spread beauty, innocence and love!

It's simple to share!

All you have to do is as follows:
post your gift on social media and copy and paste the following sentence at the end of your post:

#FlowOfGifts is brought to you by @Earthaconter Community https://www.earthaconter.org/blog/107711-allowing-our-gifts-to-flow

Thank you for inspiring others and sharing beauty, innocence and love into the world! 


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