It takes time to practice generosity, but being generous is the best use of our time. Thich Nhat Hanh

The giving season is fast approaching. Perhaps the only time in the year (apart from birthdays) when we rev up to give. The stores are decorated; the music is playing; and hopefully our credit cards can tolerate an acute hit of spending.
Since my birthday comes just 20 days before the Big Day, you could say I am very fortunate in that I usually get a double dose of gifts.
My friends and I, in recent years, recognising that we have so much, decided to get off the Christmas Shopping Express. Instead of giving presents to one another, we elected to pool our resources and give to a charity instead. The first year we donated to an organisation called “Send a Cow”, the idea behind it being that the animal we “gift” would contribute to a poor family. For the last two years, we have supported the education of a Nepalese child.
One of the reasons I enjoy living in our little community on Mitchells Island is that it affords so many opportunities to contribute and be contributed to. The good works that one person does send ripples out. What multiple people do together sends out waves.
Here’s a couple of photos from the gardens we’ve been creating on our property with the generous help of many people:

 
This weekend our household is joining forces with other Mitchell Islanders to perform carols as part of the local public school’s Christmas celebration. It pleased me that no one who was asked to join hesitated to say yes. That’s what makes this season not so silly at all.