Every Day Is A Gift

Having dealt with hep C and its consequences now for a long time, with some very difficult days that led into months at times, one thing that has helped is my steadfast belief in hope. Hope for a better afternoon, or sometimes even calculated in mere moments, the hope and understanding that every day is a gift. Some days it is like that gift you never understood, while other times like that perfect gift you always wanted. But this is not about your last birthday gift, is it?

Some of us see the gift as a spiritual thing, given to us by a deity or faith leader, while others see no transfer or transactional nature at all. We give because we want to, when we give of ourselves in our time or in simple acts of kindness. Volunteerism is an example of this sort of giving and can be seen as a gift. The value of these gifts can at times take the form of money or what we call in-kind giving. Again, we see this as a transaction of sorts, but what is the true return on investment with such giving? It is a subjective thing indeed, and what we get in return may be simple personal satisfaction or real and true altruism.

The act of giving, as we were taught (well, most of us), was not meant as a way to benefit for ourselves. After all, it is the thought or act itself that is the reward.