Will a month of giving change your life?

Let's find out.

Many of you have been gearing up for this day since February 23, when I announced that the House of Shine would follow the spirit of Cami Walker's book by engaging in a 29 Day Giving Challenge.  Walker's book tells her story of being diagnosed with MS, feelings of self pity, and the transformative prescription given to her by her wise friend Mbali.  

Mbali instructed Cami to give away 29 gifts in 29 days, explaining that, "If you spend all of your time and energy focusing on your pain, you're feeding the disease.  You're making it worse by putting all of your attention there."  

You don't need a disease to have Mbali's prescription work.  Maybe you are healthy, but for whatever reason you're feeling lost, tired, burned out, or sadder than you would like.  Mbali explains, "By giving, you are focusing on what you have to offer others, inviting more abundance into your life.  Giving of any kind is taking positive action that begins the process of change.  It will shift your energy for life."

That's what we hope to find out.  Can giving 29 gifts in 29 days shift our energy, subsequently bringing more shine into our lives?

There's more.

Mbali shares lessons learned while participating in her own 29 Day Giving Challenge.  She explains, for instance, that "Giving opens space for me to receive because giving and receiving are part of the same naturally reciprocal cycle." and that,"When I give from a place of responsibility and resentment, I negate the give and and nothing changes.  In fact, I am often left feeling resentful and drained."

We will learn our own lessons while engaging in the 29 Giving Challenge.  I hope you will join us in the Community Forum labeled, 29 Gifts to share what you are learning and to describe your experiences.  I, for one, hope to post each gift I give before day's end, along with a bit about the experience.

A few more points before we get our Giving Challenge underway.

No wrapping paper and ribbon necessary.  Walker makes a point of explaining that gifts can be anything from spare change to a kind word or thought.  The gifts we are talking about are gifts from the heart - not necessarily store bought items, wrapped and tied with a bow.

No planning required.  Put your Planner Pads away.  The idea is not to spend today plotting out all 29 gifts, purchasing them and then lining them up ready to distribute daily.  Rather, the intention is to wait for each day's giving opportunity to present itself to you.  For you "J" types, like me, this will be hard.

Consecutive.  You must give for 29 consecutive days.  If you get to day 3, 5, 12, 17, 22, or 28 and skip a day of gift giving then you must start over from day one.

Prompts.  I can't recap the beauty of this book all at once.  My intention is to periodically post excerpts from the book allowing each of you to reflect and respond.  The daily blog will continue business as usual, so check in to the 29 Gifts Forum to participate in discussion/sharing about your 29 Day Giving Challenge.

We are all teachers and we are all learners.  Please don't wait for me to make a point, pose a question, or provide clarification.  The Forum belongs to all of us.  Have at it.

It's Never Too Late:  If you haven't read the book, don't sweat it.  We will convene in the Community Forum labeled, 29 Gifts today to ask and answer any questions you might have about participating. Rest assured, the rules of play are easy.  Give 29 gifts in 29 days.  Don't miss a day or you must start over.  Think beyond conventional definitions of "gift."  Be ready to receive.

Finally...

Let's agree to meet back here on Friday, April 30.  We'll Free-For-All about our experience and all the things that have come our way as a result of participating in Walker's Giving Challenge.

Remember, visit us in the Community Forum labeled, 29 Gifts to: ask questions you might have, share points you think I have forgotten, or to tell about the first gift you've given.  And if you're out there, Kelly.  Thank you for inspiring me.  Today's post is dedicated to you.

I'm excited.

Shining off until tomorrow...