This morning, I was feeling super-grumpy after I tripped and fell, landing hard on my elbow and spilling my smoothie EVERYwhere. 

I was crying, the dog was freaked out; it was not a great scene.

My new method for dealing with stuff like this – bad moods, bad days, grumpiness, and negativity – is to turn it around. Do good for others. Be of service. Give from my heart. Get out of my own little world and help those who need it. 

So today, with tears of elbow pain streaming down my face and smoothie-speckled clothing and hair, I packed up 2 shopping bags FULL of donations and took them to a local women’s centre. 

Included were: 14 hand-knit winter hats, 7 hand-knit winter scarves, 2 hand-knit children’s sweaters, 3 upcycled wool headbands, 1 upcycled wool cowl, 1 pair of upcycled wool mittens, 6 handmade toy mice, 3 upcycled toddler pants, 5 handmade upcycled pennant buntings, and 9 pieces of brand new baby clothing. 

Two years ago, I made a similar donation to a different women’s shelter, giving Christmas cards, warm winter hats, scarves, and mittens, along with a selection of beaded jewelry that I acquired through trading with another artist. 

I love the idea of giving women a pretty little gift just for them. Most of the women living in shelters have very few belongings, and what they do have needs to be functional. I figured a pretty set of earrings or a cheerful fuzzy scarf could really bring a smile to someone’s face on Christmas morning. 

Giving so much goodness to people who have so little right before Christmas lights me up. It makes my heart feel better. I may have fallen down but thank God I have a safe place to live. I might have spilled my breakfast but thank God I can make another one. 

Just as I knew they would, the grumps disappeared. Poof.

I may encounter tough times but I will never give up. I must keep going; there is simply too much LOVE inside me to stop. This is why I do Reiki. I have to give; it’s what I do, and how I move forward. Giving gives me strength – who knew?!

Thank you life, thank you friends, thank you Reiki. Everything is perfectly as it should be. When you need reminding, turn it around. Give back. There is always someone who needs it.