Subject: Give the Gift of Yourself

Welcome to Celebrating the Journey!
Monday, December 18, 2000
Issue #45

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Give the Gift of Yourself
2. Quotes
3. 3 Different Takes on the 3 Wise Men

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1. Give the Gift of Yourself

This wonderful perspective on gift giving comes, once again,
from my good friend Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee. It is
taken from her free daily email newsletter, 365 Days of
Coaching. I highly recommend it! You can contact Rachelle
and subscribe to 365 Days at http://www.coachlee.com.

‘Tis the season to give gifts. Gifts are nice to give and
to receive. There is a gift, however, that is a one of a
kind and something that no one else can give, and that is
the gift of yourself. When you give of yourself it is a
gift that comes from the heart. Giving of your time is a
gift that is rare and precious and one that will make a
big difference in your life and the lives that you touch.

Spend time with the ones you love, do something special
with them like making a special meal or a fun craft project.
Take time to really listen to what they have to say. Be
attentive and responsive. There are so many ways to give of
yourself that are not expensive and these are one of a kind
gifts. Best of all, the more you give the more you get
back.

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2. Quotes

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to
begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the
way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished
business, time to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would
begin. One day it dawned on me that these obstacles were my
life.

This perspective has made me realize that there is no way to
happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment
that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it
with someone special, special enough to spend your time with
– family, friends, lover … and remember that time waits for no
one.
Alfred D. Souza

Until you value yourself, you will not value your time.
Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.
M. Scott Peck

In these days of tension, human beings can learn a great deal
about relaxation from watching a cat who doesn’t just lie
down when it is time to rest, but pours his body on the floor
and rests in every nerve and muscle.
Murray Robinson

Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.
Napoleon Hill

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3. Humor: 3 Takes on 3 Wise Men

Please note that there is a bit of irreverence in this humor
section. Also some very good giggles. I offer it in the spirit of
the season and of not taking ourselves too seriously. Enjoy.

What would have happened if it had been three Wise
Women instead of three Wise Men?

They would have

Asked directions
Arrived on time
Helped deliver the baby
Cleaned the stable
Made a casserole, and
Brought practical gifts.

A good friend who is a gay man responded with the
following:

Cute, but do you know what would have happened if it
had been Three GAY Wise Men?

They would have

Done a fabulous parade towards Bethlehem in full
auburn/gold sequins gown to match the low “Star of
Bethlehem” lighting
Arrived early
Helped deliver the baby AND dressed Him up in a
gorgeous buttercream-colored 100% cotton throw
Cleaned the stable AND redecorated it in a “western”
theme to match the animals, complete with perfectly-centered
mirror ball hanging from the wooden beams
Not made a casserole but rather a flawless entree of
Chilean sea bass dusted in cocoa powder with Guatemalan
mangoes in a light chutney mix, mashed potatoes with a light
cream fennel sauce and Anjou pears with yogurt cream cheese
and Grand Marnier swirls, topped off with a caff/half caff
cappuccino con panna.
The practical gifts would have included items from the
new Martha Stewart Living collection.

Upon receipt of this, a gay woman responded:

In regards to the recently sent Christmas stories, “What if it
had been three wise lesbians… ”

They would arrive about 40 minutes late, and they wouldn’t
have walked. One would have driven in a four-wheel drive
SUV-cart pulled by domesticated (female) oxen. The other two
would car-pool in something akin to a Volvo.

One would have been dressed in a fine gown and robes of
natural fibers by Ann Taylor of Bethlehem; one wearing a
caftan with a tiny pair of pants sewn into it; and the third in a
simple knit turtleneck from the Gap.

Naturally, they’d all wear Birkenstoks, they invented them!

Though they missed the actual birth, the Wise Women would
complain that a lack of medical assistance was surely because
of covert misogyny and discrimination from Mary’s HMO and
doesn’t it just figure she has Kaiser?

Two Wise Women would set about organizing the stable by
whipping out their cordless power drills from Black and
Decker and securing it with some recycled two-by-fours.
They’d craft the manger into an elegant crib. Using bits of
wood and grass laying around, they’d create a living room set
that looks like it just stepped off the pages of the IKEA catalog.
And, while all this was going on, the third Wise Woman
would play lovely lesbian songs on her guitar.

They would bring various pot luck covered dishes with a
variety of meats and tofu, and a lovely dessert of kuchen and
decaf. They would have set everything up, buffet-style…
making sure there was enough for everyone, including the
male shepherds who showed up late bringing nothing. One
Wise Woman would ask that the male shepherds eat outside,
separate from the women, but she’d be overruled in a fair,
impartial open-stable vote.

The gifts brought by the Wise Women would include: A gift
certificate to Home Depot, a basket of potpourri and
miscellaneous scented bath oils, subscriptions to Mother Jones
and Out, and a cat.

They would all sit around in a circle and coo over the lovely
new child, praising Mary for doing all this on her own and
only moderately scold Joseph for being so lazy as to not even
participate in the conception.

One Wise Woman would then hit on Mary while the other
two made a petition to adopt the newborn baby.

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Give the gift of your time this week.

Namaste, Margo

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My purpose in publishing Celebrating the Journey is to
provide you with resources, motivation, inspiration and
energy for YOUR journey of creating success and freedom
in all areas of your life. CTJ will use stories from my life
and others, coaching tips and resources, quotes and
humor to deliver a learning experience that can enhance
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Copyright © 2000, all rights reserved, by Margo
Chisholm

I invite you to share Celebrating the Journey with your
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author of this article is Margo Chisholm. You may contact
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—
“At every moment of our life we have an
opportunity to choose joy.”
Henri J. M. Nouwen

Margo Chisholm
Coach, Speaker, Author, Therapist
Partnering you in having success,
freedom and joy in all areas of your life
970-704-9336 fax 970-704-9346
margo@tothesummit.com

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