Is there such a thing as too much love?

When my daughter was younger, someone close to us advised me "not to shower her with too much love, you will spoil her." Mind you, she was only 6 months old....

I read an Instagram quote from Obama yesterday - "what was your favorite gift this holiday....that you gave to someone else."

Every Sunday, the Minister at Unity Church here in Boulder, always ends his talk with "in giving we receive."

Are you picking up on my message :) It's all around us. People need our help and I am at a place in my life where I can and want to give. Perhaps its just a smile at the sad soul on the street who needs a little sunshine in his life, but also, in my relationships with family and my work.

There was a time in my life when I needed help. I was amazed at the helping hands that reached out to me, from the most unexpected people and places. Losing what I thought was everything during my divorce, resulted in gaining even more. Not in the material sense, but in a spiritual sense. My divorce taught me gratitude, I learned to appreciate what I had (Sami) to give thanks, and more importantly, I learned the importance of giving back.

Gratitude

Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness, from the Latin word gratus ‘pleasing, thankful’, is a feeling of appreciation felt by and/or similar positive response shown by the recipient of kindness, gifts, help, favors, or other types of generosity, towards the giver of such gifts.The experience of gratitude has historically been a focus of several world religions.

I look back on my divorce as such a gift. The difficulties that showed up became life altering lessons. The experience humbled Samantha and I.

I start each new year thanking the Universe for all that it has placed in my path and reminding myself, as my Minister reminds me weekly "In giving we receive."

How will you start your new year? Perhaps, start it with a smile? :)