Gifting - A New Life Lesson to Live!

A gift. Something to give. Something to get. What’s your idea of a gift? I bet you look forward to getting a gift, right? How about giving a gift? Is that something you must think about, or are not sure about, or even don’t like? Well, how about looking at gifting in a different way. 
The second of The 10 Principles of Burning Man is Gifting. 

Here’s how it is put forth by The Burning Man Project: 

Gifting 

Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value. 

For me, this Principle made me rethink what gifts and giving is all about. This happened beginning in my first year going to Burning Man. For that year, I decided to make gifts that reflected something I liked and could make myself. So, I came up with the idea of making small miniature paintings that could be worn as necklaces. Each one of these was made of poplar wood slating, measuring a bit less than 2 inches square. I sanded each one, primes each with spray enamel paint and then painted various scenes, flowers and Burning Man ideas on each, using a magnifying light ring to get the detailed I wanted. I then attached cording to complete the necklace. In 2009, I made 50 of these. In 2010, I made 100 and in 2011, I made almost 200! Upon arrival on the playa, I gave out the necklaces to anyone who I came upon. In fact, I only have about 30 of these now...all the rest were gifted.  

These gifts were given, as the Principle states, without condition. I wanted nothing in return. In fact, I wanted each miniature painting to be not just a gift of painted wood, but a gift of myself through the expression of what I enjoyed creatively – art, scenery, abstraction, flowers, and Burning Man itself. It’s in that expression that the reality – and beauty – of gifting comes out.  
The real gift is that of what we ourselves give to one another! Every gift of ourselves should be given unconditionally, unselfishly and with caring and love. In fact, we should see ourselves and what we do in a positive way as a gift we can give every day!! Our lives and our good acts ARE a gift. Think about what gifts you have to give that are a part of you. Think about the value you can give not just to yourself, but to friends, family and everyone around you. What a better world we could have if we looked at each moment, each day in this way. 

Below are just a few of the miniature painting gifts of self I produced. 

Always know that Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey wrote the 10 Principles in 2004 as guidelines for the newly-formed Regional Network. They were crafted not as a dictate of how people should be and act, but as a reflection of the community’s ethos and culture as it had organically developed since the event’s inception. Learn more about The 10 Principles and The Burning Man Project at: The 10 Principles of Burning Man | Burning Man
 
The Man burns in 33 days!! 

Many of the miniature paintings can be seen on my Flickr site in two albums:

2011 Burning Man Miniature Paintings | Flickr

My Miniature Paintings 2009 & 2010 | Flickr

So...What Now?

So, what now? Is that a question you ask yourself often? I guess I have had that experience in the past few days or weeks. Last week, I had a complicated ear surgery, which the outcome is still in doubt. Will I hear again in my ear? Will I look different with my ear sewn on? So..what now?

Well, when I take a moment to reflect, the answer is clear. You just get up and move onward. Life deals all of us with a lot of challenges. Big and small and everything in between comes at us each day. Many challenges we just take on without thinking about, while others are so large as to weigh us down and push us over. 

The secret to moving on is to look for every possible opportunity within the challenge. Think about it. If someone has been told they a have life-threatening disease, the challenge is immense, yet they can look at the opportunities to connect deeper with family, take on something they thought they could never do, or embark on a spiritual journey. The opportunities are really endless. For me, well...so what if I look a little different, I can embrace my new-found look, laugh about it and know that it helps make me even more unique than I am. As for my hearing, well, I can always hear from one side, and I can always take the opportunity to see what technology is available to give me more hearing ability with what I have. Point is that nothing is lost, and all can be gained. How about that I can use the challenge to refocus my senses and talents on my other senses, visual and creative. I can move away from self-doubt and move into self-discovery. How exciting is that!!

Late today, an amazing friend of mine, Jim Bowers, sent me the following message that is timely and relevant in so many ways. Jim and I are artists, creators. He is also a dreamer, inspirational and authentic. We are both "perfectly imperfect", as he says. Here's what he had to say:

“Every single human being on this planet (NO EXCEPTIONS) has something BRILLIANT to offer mankind, whether they know it, believe it, or not. It may be obvious, or it may be hidden, deep within an insecurity. Self-doubt renders that BRILLIANT YOU undiscovered, unrecognized, and unappreciated. 

Given time, trust, and commitment, I WILL discover, reveal and then include that uniquely BRILLIANT contribution as an equally integral part of my/our Art. 

Above all else, this is what brings me true joy and my greatest sense of genuine accomplishment.” 

- Jim Bowers, Artist

These are words to live by. So, look at the brilliant YOU and discover your own Art, and say, "What now?"  I think you'll know the answer!!!

Comments please!!