To feel like a Ray of Sunshine, you need only to extend your hand and help others with a smile, thankful that they are receiving your help ! 🙂
It’s easier to give than to receive, for most people. However, unless there is a receiver, how can one give? It is the receiver who enables the giver to gift themselves the joy of giving. The two acts are interlinked.
Giving is a sure way to receive joy, satisfaction and gratitude just as by receiving, the receiver gives an opportunity to the giver to feel all these.
We are both receivers and givers, one way or the other.
What I learnt from my trek –
On my Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, something that struck me as amazing was the flow, balance and play between giving and receiving.
A trek lends itself to many simple ways in which one can help others. I can help someone by pulling them up a rock, holding their hand and walking with them if they have a fear of heights. If they run out of water, I can help by giving them water from my bottle. I can help by sharing my snacks if they are low on energy. I can give them a few words of encouragement to boost their mood, and lend an ear when they want to share something…
However, the more humbling and enlightening part is to become a receiver. To receive graciously and gratefully is a skill. Likewise, to ask for help with a smile when one needs it is a skill.
On the ascent to Gadsar Pass, for the first time during the trek, I knew I needed help to make it up the last few hundred meters. I stood there for a few moments, and with a smile, I reached out a hand, “can you hold my hand and help me up a bit?”. It was an interesting conversation Arvind and I had the next 15 minutes as we made it up the Pass together.
Both roles are important and are interlinked –
When the intention behind the receiving and the giving is pure and clear, it becomes a joyful, easy engagement for both. A gracious receiver uses this opportunity to show their appreciation to the giver. Indeed, by being a receiver and receiving help from someone, in whatever form that may be, the giver feels valued, capable and appreciated.
Both roles are positive as they build and strengthen relationships, and are expressions of trust and affection. We are not talking about ‘takers’ here, the ones who exploit someone’s good nature selfishly.
It made me feel happy that I could hold Ajay’s hand and help him on our descent on the last day of our trek. (He is uncomfortable on narrow high trails). Barely an hour later, it was his turn to handhold me down the rest of our descent! This balance and play of giving and receiving felt not the least bit awkward. That day will remain with us for long, making us smile when we recall it.
How blessed is a receiver to be the recipient of care, concern, affection, support and friendship!
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” –Maya Angelou
At the workplace –
The joys and benefits of giving and receiving can be extended to the workplace and other situations as well. We can help our teams achieve goals by offering help, giving guidance and ideas. On the other hand, when we need help at the workplace and do not ask or do not have the openness to receive it, it eats into the quality of work. A balance between the ‘outflow’ and ‘inflow’ of resources is good to have.
Both the acts of giving and receiving need openness of heart and mind. We need to give with an open heart just as we need to be able to receive with an open heart without judging people on their roles, worth or competencies.
This is a ‘thank you’ post to all those who helped me on my trek, and those who received from me as well. 😊
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