I am so very thankful for the many 'lifters' that have crossed my path in the past 48 hours. What a great gift It has been to be on the receiving end. Many great gifts. Who are the lifters and 'gifters' in your life right now? And could you be a greater lifter or more prolific 'gifter'? Do you want to be? And how does this subject cross your heart? 

Spell check does not even recognize the word 'gifter' or 'giftee' for that matter. Is it odd for me to find that strange? How are we coming from the giving place in our hearts if it is such a stretch to align our means to our message? 

Ok. so it's easier to say encourage, inspire, and motivate. 

Just not quite so pretty as lifting someone you care for up. On purpose. Like wrapping the gift with carefully chosen paper and ribbon. The gift is in the giving. 

To see the reflection, one must be looking. When we acknowledge gratitude, we can see through our awareness, what is being reflected back to us. 

This past week I visited my old acquaintance  'Ignoring the obvious'. Not much has changed since the last time we saw each other, or so I thought. This time, I pulled a new trick out of my sleeve when I saw it coming. I decided to not do what I have always done (simply wishing I could be there again). And I was rewarded with an entirely different outcome. See what happens when the tools are at hand instead of buried somewhere that is not 'handy' when they are needed the most. 

The trick I used to get the treat was a long, hard look at finishing what I started. 

It was not a pretty site, and it wasn't horrible. It scared the dickens out of me, but I didn't die from the fright. I published work that I set out to publish. And it turned out better than I could ever imagine. I once again found out that I don't know what I don't know. Obviously? Isn't it always more than that? More than meets the eye? When it was done. it suddenly didn't seem all that frightening. What was I scared of? What was I looking for that was so scary? I can never do exactly that thing again. There is only ever a first time, once.