Gratitude: It's a Pleasure!

Nippun Mehta's explanation of his experiment in living the gift economy addresses the inner journey. In the essay behind that link he describes the origins of "Charity Focus", the organization he founded. It's a wonderful read, and not too long.

I don't remember where I heard the idea of lying in bed before falling asleep and thinking of three things you were grateful for. I do remember that at first, I wondered what am I grateful for? Just that simple thought experiment, as a practice, has multiplied how much I see to be grateful for. I  consider it a technique for enjoying life ever more fully. When I lie in bed at night now, fifteen things pop into mind  for gratitude. For example, to-day I realized I am glad to be 65. Sometimes I have regretted the signs of aging, but it seems that I'm living long enough to learn about things that were a complete mystery to me in the past. That's a pleasure that outweighs wrinkles! I am grateful to whoever shared that idea.

Not every gift is welcome!

Lewis Hyde's book "The Gift '  was my introduction to the idea of the "gift economy" : an exchange running parallel to what we usually call "the economy"- buying and selling with money. The book was reading for a course, and I couldn't get into it at all. Several years went by until I picked up the book again and read it in one gulp.

What is is about a gift economy that was so difficult for me? Hyde mentions in passing that there is a downside to the gift economy, although his book mainly conjures us the sustaining of community that arises from it.  I have started to think about  the gifts I would rather not receive. Nice things, sometimes, but just not my taste. These days, I'm getting rid of stuff. I don't want more stuff! Take it away! There are things sitting on my shelf that I never did like, and felt guilty for not liking.

And then there is giving: what will they like? I like it, but will he? It is so much easier to go and buy what you want and pay cash, and if you decide to return it there are not hard feelings. It's a transaction not loaded with  relationship issues.