Welcome to Abundance By Magic! Started by one lucky “Elf” who loves to give money away, this website has developed over time into an entire community of Elves who spread magic, love, and joy through anonymous gift-giving. There are currently twenty-nine Elves from seven different countries (and four continents!) giving gifts around the world.

If you are a first-time visitor to this site, please make yourself at home and have a look around:

Did you receive a gift from Abundance By Magic? The Did You Receive Something? page should answer all of your questions.

Are you curious about who has been gifted and why? Sometimes we blog about it!

Are you curious to know more about the person who founded this site, her mission, and why she does what she does? Check out the About and the FAQ pages.

Would you like to join in the fun of giving and become an Elf yourself? You can learn how on the “Be an Elf” page.

Would you like to sign up to receive e-mail notification of all new posts and updates to the site? You may do so on the Contact page.

Would you like to visit another website filled with magic and gifts? Check out our sister-site, My Everyday Magic, run by the amazing and fantabulous Sparkle Fairy!

Thank you for visiting Abundance By Magic. I hope you enjoy the site, and have a tremendously wonderful and lucky day!

I know how I want to use my Elf money!  It’s taken me a while.  At first, I thought I would use it to continue to fund the giving of random flowers.  I love doing that so much!  (Check out the beautiful thank you posts, so fun!) But decided that wasn’t it.  I will continue to do that but I knew I wanted to give the whole amount to someone – but who?

I figured I would just keep my eyes open and the person would appear.  I had different visions of how that would happen but it was not at all like I planned.   A friend sent me a link with a product recommended by her vet.  She asked if I was familiar with the company.  I was not but told her I’d check it out.

Oh my goodness!!  I have spent HOURS over the past few days drinking in every word on this site.  Each story, each description is filled with magically divine energy and love.   The owner, Molly Sheehan, spreads her light so earnestly.  She describes her relationship with her farm as “co-creative”.  She works with the spirits/angels to create the gardens and flower essences that nurture and heal.   Through out the stories you see a trust, a true belief in abundance and joy.  Maybe I connect with the site because I am a gardener but there is something so beautiful about her relationship with all the things her in life.  So while I may not be able to just drop everything and move there…

I want to give my Elf money to her   I hope she will use it as a small surprise for herself but if she is called to pass it along, I am fine with that too.   All that I know is that I want to recognize, support, acknowledge and reflect all that she is doing.  I have gotten such an energetic boost from reading about Green Hope Farm.   Here is the link, in case anyone else wants to check them out:

http://www.greenhopeessences.com

I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to send the money but have an idea.  I hope to send it off this week.  I’m so happy to have found the person I want to give to, the whole process has been so joyful!!  Thank you ABM for all that *you* do inspiring all of us to give and spread joy and appreciation!!

~Willow

Well, my life is calming down finally, whew!

Being absent for so long has given me a chance to do some thinking about this site. It’s been nearly five months since I went live, and while it has been SO fun, it’s also been taking way more time and energy than I had ever anticipated.

When I started ABM, I had envisioned it as a quiet little out-of-the-way site, mostly static. It was done on a bit of an impulse. The decision to start blogging and gifting on a regular, weekly basis came soon after going live, when I got a flurry of attention and realized I really liked it. I liked it so much that I started dreaming up all kinds of new ways to expand the site and turn it into something really big and meaningful. And I’m so glad I did, because it has been really fun, and I feel like I’ve gotten to know the coolest, most generous, and just plain most wonderful people on the web.

But here’s the thing about me: I’m the kind of person who does things in fits and starts. I’ll get super-excited about something and pour my heart into it for a while, and then, just as suddenly, I’ll feel a need to pull back and hibernate. I’ve always been that way about my giving. I’ll go through periods of feeling incredibly expansive, where gifting people feels so good and fun and joyful. Those periods alternate with often longer periods of pulling back and focusing inward. It’s how I recharge and refresh. Without those periods, I burn out, pure and simple.

I can feel myself hitting that point.

I also feel like, in my excitement to expand the site and make it into something big, I’ve lost some of my original purpose, which was simply to give freely and from my heart, anonymously and privately.

So, as amazing as this has all been, I’m going to be pulling back. Downshifting. The site will still be here, of course, and Abundance By Magic will still very much be a home for all Elves to give and post and share and enjoy. But I’m going to be far less visible for the foreseeable future. I won’t be blogging on any regular schedule anymore. It’s not that I’ll be gone: I’ll still be reachable by e-mail, I’ll continue to register new Elves, I’ll be checking for Elf posts, reading, and commenting.

I plan to continue giving, too, just privately and not according to any schedule.

I’m honoring my cycles.

I hope all of you are honoring your cycles too. If you want to post every week or even every single day, I hope you do it and enjoy it! And if you feel like pulling back for a while, that is wonderful too. It’s all good.

OH, and I have to tell you, I haven’t totally decided what to do about the $50 giveaway: I think that, for now, I’m going to put it on hold so I can figure out how I feel about it later. For the time being, I’ll most likely continue to gift Elves, but only when I feel inspired to do it, and probably privately rather than publicly. I hope this isn’t too much of a disappointment for anyone.

You are all wonderful. Thank you for being the best readers and Elves on the whole wide web!

(OH, and I almost forgot: A big welcome to our newest Elves, Lola and Pixie. And apologies to you both for not responding quicker. I hope to get your cards out soon!)

Hello darling elves!

I have been so caught up in the ups and downs of my own life, that I have completely forgotten about my offer to give a gift to you all once a month.  I do apologize ♥

I have been through a time of intense introspection and have really nurtured myself and listened to my body and inner compass and I am slowly feeling better.

Without further ado – here is the winner of my first gift *drum roll*

 Willow

Congratulations Willow!  I will pop you a mail soon with the details.

Much Love

Elviolith

My crazy few weeks are winding down, but not quite over yet, so I’m going to have to make this another “hit and run” post. Hopefully by the end of this week I’ll have some time to sit down and type up something more substantial. For now, all I’ll say is that this week’s Elf Tuesday winner is…

Ember!

Congrats Ember, and enjoy!

We passed out our first seed pot (I will upload a picture if I can figure out how to). They are basically small plastic pots with soil and seeds inside, and a poem printed on brightly colored paper on top. The poem reads:

Please take this pot that I give to you.
Add water, sun and a little love, too.

The seeds inside soon will grow.
Beautiful flowers a reminder of something you should know.

You are a beautiful person doing beautiful things.
You touched me today and made my heart sing.

As you care for these seeds and watch them grow,
May it be a constant reminder of how you have touched others.

There was a man at the grocery store that we were commenting about on Sunday that we should give a seed pot to because he really cares about his job and the people that shop and work there. What do you know…we were pulling into a completely different shopping center the next day and there he happened to be (although we know nothing is by chance!) standing outside. We happened to have the seed pots with us and stopped and gave him one. He said how much he needed that at that very moment. His car had just broken down, and it had just been one of those weeks. I was as moved by this as he was. When I got back in the car my daughter said, “Mommy, we made his day!” She had overheard him say that. I love the Universe at work!!

Whew, I’m in the middle of a frantically busy two week period: We’re celebrating three birthdays (including one party full of eight year old boys), hosting two sets of out-of-town guests, and in the midst of it all, we’re getting work done on the house. It’s a madhouse! That’s why I’m going to have to make this crazy-quick:

This week’s Elf winners are…

Anastasia,

woodlandfairie, and…

elder elf!

Enjoy your giving money, wonderful Elves. And now, for me, it’s back to the madhouse!

What an AWESOME way to start this adventure…with some money in my pocket to really be able to do it right! Thank you ABM!! We have had fun collecting our supplies to pass out 20 flower seed pots. Since my family and I are trying with all our might to encourage Spring’s arrival we have decided to get others on board by putting flower seeds into a pot for the recipients to just add water to and Voila! They will have their own ray of sunshine on their windowsill to remind them of what a ray of sunshine they were to us that day. I still need to come up with a little poem to attach to it that says something to this effect. Will keep everyone updated as we start looking for recipients. Rubbing my hands together right now in excitement

Well, I’m not going to question who I’m led to give to and when… I just get that nudge and do it before I think about it too hard! (does anyone feel this way??)

I’d almost forgot but a few weeks ago I felt the need to leave one of my little pocket charm bags w/ a cashier as I was checking out telling her to please pass it along to the next female customer that came through. She looked thrilled and eagerly agreed to pass it along!  The charm I chose said “reach for the stars” and I could just imagine it going to some young gal in college or high school, you know, on the brink of adulthood – with a passion to share her enthusiasm with the world!  As I was getting in my car an older lady … a much older lady who could barely walk – she was using a walker and receiving assistance from an older man …most likely her husband was making her way in.  I have to admit I was a little bit dissapointed thinking she would be the recipient.  She just wasn’t exactly who I had in mind.  Does that make me a bad angel elf?  Oh I hope not! <sigh>  I am hoping that she could use that encouragement in some small way… I just cannot second guess this!

A few weeks ago when I received my Elf Tuesday $ I also had an unexpected   check for the very same amount!!  I decided I needed to find ways to gift all of it! Anyway, last week I went back to my little store and bought more pocket charms! This time a different lady was behind the counter… and as I made my purchase I gave her an envelope with some of the money and a card and asked her to please give it to her next customer.  She just beamed and seemed excited to participate. This is such a sweet little shop .. a place that you would dash into to purchase a gift or card for someone special.  Anyway, I’m hoping that extra $ gives someone some affirmation.

Ok last story … I promise!  I absolutely adore flowers and after reading some of my fellow elves great stories of sharing them.. I just knew I had to follow suit!  After arriving at the grocery store I found myself picking out 2 bouquets and then studying the gift cards.  The flowers had already spoken to me – which is why I picked two!  As I stood looking at the gift cards … not a word so I moved on.  Made my selections and stood in line of a teller who was not particularly happy to be there.  I decided then and there she should receive one bunch!  She did not really light up but I know ABM warns that not everyone will have a ‘thrilled’ response so I didn’t take it to heart…. but hoping it helped to make her day a little better.  As I was walking out an older couple pushed their buggy by me.  I knew right away that they would be “the other ones” … I also found another envelope w/ some of the $ in it and tucked it into the flowers.  I followed them out and when they popped their trunk I was right behind them.  She turned around startled as I held out the bouquet!  I clumsily said “here – these are for you” with a great big smile!  As she took them from me her eyes lit up.

Here’s my list of ten things you can do to magically increase your wealth and abundance. They are easy, fun, and free, and take less than a minute each!

1. Go outside, look up at the sky and imagine gold coins falling from the sky and landing all over your yard, your house, your stoop, and you. Take a deep breath, keep your face to the sky, smile huge, and spread out your arms to catch the gold.

2. Go to your front door. Open the door and as the fresh air comes in, say, “I invite the spirit and energy of joyful abundance into this home.” Imagine it pouring in through the open door like a flood. This can take just a few seconds (especially if it’s 20 degrees outside, lol) and it’s a really nice (and powerful!) way to start the day every morning.

3. Stand in your front doorway looking towards the back of the house. Now walk to the very back, left-hand corner of your house. It doesn’t matter what room you’re in, just look at that corner and see what’s there. Now remove one thing from that corner that feels “poor” to you. If something is ripped or broken or dirty or cheap, take it out of that corner. Get rid of it. If there is nothing there, then sweep it fresh and clean. Then, add one thing to that corner that feels “rich” to you. It can be small or large — a crystal, a vase, a flower, a photograph. As you do it, focus on the object and the feeling of being in a gorgeous home. Say, “I release my past and live in wealth and prosperity now.” (If you don’t want to put an object there, just bless the corner and make it beautiful in your imagination — it works just as well!)

4. Go tear off a small piece of scratch paper and write on it, “I am rich!” Put it in your pocket and carry it around for the rest of the day.

5. Right this very moment: Look around the room you are in. Choose one item that is visible to you that you are glad is yours. It could be your table, a sink faucet, your oven, your washing machine, your computer: Anything at all. Now, close your eyes (briefly) and imagine not owning this thing. Think about how many people on this planet do not own this thing, or anything like it. Now open your eyes, see this thing that you have, and feel how extremely lucky you are. Bask in that feeling for a few seconds, and then let it go.

6. Find your wallet. Take out all of the paper money and organize it. Smooth each bill out, un-creasing the corners and making it look nice and neat. Then stack the bills with the largest at the back and the smallest at the front. Make them all face the same way (with heads facing you). Before you return them to your wallet, make sure your billfold is clean and empty. Put your newly organized money back into the nice clean billfold and say, “I respect and take care of my money.” (Money loves to flow to people who are good stewards of it.)

7. Set a timer for exactly one minute and be sure that you will be undisturbed for that time. (A locked bathroom works nicely for this ). Close your eyes and breathe in and out very deeply. With every inbreath, say to yourself, “I joyfully receive magical blessings of wealth and abundance.” With every out-breath say to yourself, “I easily release all blocks to wealth and abundance.” That’s it!

8. If you have a backyard, look out into it and use your imagination to plant a giant “money-magnet”. Money magnets are unique for every person, so everyone’s will be a little different. What does yours look like? How big is it? What shape is it? What color? Is it buried in the ground, or floating in the air (or something in-between)? Does it sparkle and glow? Does it have a temperature? A texture? Does it make a sound? Whatever form it takes, use your imagination to watch as suddenly, from absolutely every direction, money and wealth is just flowing to you like mad, attracted by the power and strength of your giant money-magnet. (Those without yards can plant one right in, under, or over their homes, of course. I recommend the back left-hand corner of the house.)

9. When you are in bed tonight, just as you are ready to drift into sleep, ask to connect with your Fairy Godmother. Get an image of her visually, and a sense of her voice and her temperament. Is she soft and gentle and kind? Strong and fierce? Or maybe she’s a big goof-ball, laughing and having fun? Is she big like a life-sized person, or tiny like a fairy? Whoever she is, ask her to bless you while you sleep. Make a wish. Fall asleep knowing that magic and miracles are real. When you wake up, notice what your thoughts and feelings are, or if you had any dreams. If you have received any messages or guidance, follow it. Also, remember to say thank you.

10. Give something away. It doesn’t matter how small. Give a flower, a charm, a dollar, a cookie. Give anything! As you do it, say to yourself: “I ask that this gift be returned to me, with joy, times one hundred.” As you say it, feel the thrill that runs through you.

And so it is. Magic! Yay!

Now back to business: I’m going to be crazy-busy and mostly away from my computer for the next two weeks. Rather than be stressed or sad about it, I’ve decided to gift six Elves over the next two weeks (three today and three next Tuesday) to help pick up my slack. I can’t wait to see what you all do!

The three Elf winners for this week are…

Willow and…

Serendipity and…

Tawny Rajah (our newest Elf!)

Hooray! Congrats! Enjoy! And remember, if you have any questions about how to write a post, check out the new Elf FAQ.

Today’s recipient is a truly beautiful nominee submitted by the lovely Elisabeth, who was so eloquent that I don’t need to add a single word:

Hi there!

I am nominating the most incredible, selfless person I have ever met. Dr G. is a naturopathic physician licensed by the state of Connecticut. She is a true physician, someone who holds people in a place of wellness. She specializes in children with special needs and truly loves every single one of her patients. She treats them like they are one of her own family.

Though faced with her own financial difficulty she donates her time freely so that patients with little to no means can be seen. She has even given medicine (paying out of her own pocket) if they can’t afford it. She believes that everyone deserves healthcare and is on a personal mission to see that happen.

Beyond the fact that she is an incredible practitioner, she is an incredible mother. Aside from her own children, she has fostered many and would never hesitate to take another person into her home. She gives from her heart and never makes anyone feel that they are burdening her.

Any difficulty she faces she truly looks to see what she has to learn from it. I have never heard her blame anyone or complain. She takes everything in stride and feels blessed, even for the hardships. Her glass is *always* half full! She is the eternal optimist.

I can think of noone else more deserving than Dr. G. A heart like hers is a treasure and I’d love for her to be recognized. I’d also love for her to receive this gift so that she could do something wonderful for HERSELF. Though she routinely puts everyone else before her it is high time that she receives some personal attention!

Dr. G.: The world is so blessed to have you, and I feel so blessed to be able to give you this gift. I hope you use it on something special for yourself: Maybe some pampering? A pedicure or a massage? A fun night out? Whatever it is, please do enjoy it and know that you are truly such a blessing, and deserving of so much more.

And big huge thanks to the equally-deserving Elisabeth, for letting us know about such a lovely person!

And please, everyone, keep the nominations coming: I am enjoying them so much, and it’s such a treat for me to learn about and gift such beautiful people. It truly brings me joy!

I’ve been out of town but did take my little organza bags of pocket charms with me! We had a layover for both legs of the trip. At the first layover we encountered an airline gate agent who obviously did not have the best interest of the airlines or the waiting passengers in mind. We had started our day off @ 3 in the morning so this midmorning encounter did not sit too well. We finally were able to gather our much needed info from the other gal working the gate… but as we sat there I watched her as she continued to treat others much the same way. It was pretty obvious that she was either … sick of her job and just didn’t care or was having a really bad day. I dug out my purse to find pen and paper to take down her name to register a complaint with the airlines. (I normally don’t do such a thing but she had such a horrible attitude and was passing that along to everyone who was in her line!) Instead of a pen -what I found was one of my little bags of tokens or pocket charms.

I picked one out and then waited patiently for her to get off of the phone. The other agent asked if she could help me and I said no I would wait. She was finally put on hold and asked what I needed. I put the little charm bag up on the counter and told her that it was for her… that I hoped she had a wonderful afternoon and that I would be thinking of her the rest of the day. I could tell by her expression that she was touched. She thanked me then when it came time to hand her my boarding pass she gave me a great big smile and thanked me again. I really found that so much more rewarding then registering a complaint. I decided to see if another opportunity like that would present itself. Of course, it did… over the weekend I was at a busy store and the gal behind the counter seemed very stressed. She wasn’t rude… just not what you would call customer friendly. As I paid I put the little bag on the counter … told her it was for her to keep. Her face softened as she looked at it with the card. Then she looked a little puzzled. I just told her I hoped she had a great rest of the day and she smiled.

We got home from our trip and I found my ‘elf’ $$ waiting for me! I can’t wait to see what I’m led to do with it! … funny though I had another very unexpected check waiting for me too!!! So now I have twice the amount to ponder!! I’ll let you know!!! In the meantime, I have quite a few ABM posts to catch up on!

Happy Elfing!

After much Elf requesting I have at long last added an “Elf FAQ” including, FINALLY, instructions for how to post to the site. Miracles do happen!

I’ve been thinking about adding something else to the site too, but I wanted to get some Elf feedback before going ahead with it…

Basically, I’ve been thinking about how much I love the “Meet the Fairies” page on our sister site, My Everyday Magic. I have always assumed that we couldn’t do something like that over here due to the anonymous nature of Elfing. But then it occurred to me that while we may not be able to do exactly the same thing, it might be fun to have Elves answer fun questionnaires and use them to create profiles that give a sense of personality and character while still remaining anonymous. (Elves could also use their profile to put links to websites or include photos and other personal information, if they wanted, but the whole thing would of course be completely optional.)

What do you guys think? If you like the idea, what sorts of questions should I put on the questionnaire?

And by the way, anyone who hasn’t checked out My Everyday Magic lately should do so, pronto. The Sparkle Fairy has been spending her February “sparkling” people (the Sparkle Fairy version of “Elfing”) by doing things like giving away flowers and buying people drinks. It’s all part of her mission to start a “Magic Movement” and — get this — she has even been visiting all of her neighbors, gifting them with home baked goods (banana bread, YUM!) and delivering it herself dressed in full fairy regalia.

*Sigh* How amazing is she? Truly, I am in awe. I’ve always felt like I sparkle on the inside, but I keep my “sparkly bits” well-hidden. I like to do many of the same things Kate does, but I stay in the shadows, anonymous, hidden. Kate Street sparkles from the inside, all the way out. She’s not afraid to shine, and she lights up the world, everywhere she goes.

Yay for Kate!

Hey, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to give this week’s $50 giveaway to Kate, to use towards her “Sparkling” and her Magic Movement. She’s not an official Elf over here because she’s doing her own similar thing on Everyday Magic, but she’s as true an Elf as I’ve ever heard.

Yes, that feels exactly right. Congratulations, you Magical Sparkling Fairy Elf you! You are a true wonder, and such a magnificent blessing to this world. Shine on, Sparkle Fairy, shine on!

I won the elf draw a few weeks ago now and have been looking for my first chance to gift.  Last weekend my husband popped out early sunday morning to the local shop, he was a little short and the owner told him not to worry and drop it in when he could.  Even though this is a local shop we are not in frequently or well known by the couple and when my husband told me it made me feel all warm and tingly to hear about this kind man.  I was walking up to the library and stopped in on the way to give them the change, walking there I suddenly knew he would be my first recipient.  I bought gift paper that I needed and also gave  the money my husband owed, before I left I snuck an ABM card with a little note and money paper clipped to it on the counter.  It was a magical experience and I can’t wait for another perfect opportunity to present itself.

When I received the elf give-away money I only knew that I wanted to divide into equal portions and hand it out to random people.  I had no idea who.  Then I had a bright idea!

Every day on my way to work in the morning, there is a guy.  He sells newspapers.  Now what is so special about a guy that sells newspapers you may ask yourself.  Well let me tell you.

This guy stands at this intersection every single morning come rain or shine.  And he doesn’t just stand there with his bundle of newspapers.  No no, this guy radiates.   He absolutely shines happiness and joy.  In the past year that I have driven past there, he started recognizing me as a “regular” and every single morning without fail, we greet each other, with a beaming smile, a wave of the hand and the customary South African hand gesture making a fist and extending the thumb upwards meaning “sharp” everything is going well.

Every morning I see him walking up and down the row of cars waiting to cross at the intersection greeting all the “regulars” in the same way, putting a smile on everyone’s face with his friendly greeting.  This man who’s name I don’t even know has put a smile on my face without fail every single day I’ve driven past there no matter what my mood, and I’ve seen him do the same for everyone else he greets.

He doesn’t just sell newspapers, he spreads joy.

So I have decided to gift him with the first portion of my gift money.  I put the money with a note in an envelope thanking him for making me and everyone else smile every day and told him that I think he is incredibly special.  I highly doubt he will have internet access, and I hope that my small token of appreciation makes him feel as good as his friendly greeting makes me and everyone else he comes in contact with on Emmerentia Road every morning.

Did anyone happen to catch the article in the New York Times yesterday titled Seeing How Far $100 Can Go? It was about a writer who received a six-figure advance for a book, and decided to do something decidedly fun with a chunk of it: She gave $100 to each of nine friends, with instructions that they pass it on in some creative way, and report back at a party one month later to tell everyone about it.

Turns out, that writer has got some pretty creative friends. As reported in the NYT, one guy “paid strangers to walk through Bryant Park holding hands and sharing secrets”:

Another guy “walked up and down a B train begging people to take his money”:

I had to laugh at these — I always love to watch people who are brave enough to put themselves out there like that.

My favorites, though, were some of the quieter ones, and I think you’ll agree they are decidedly Elfish in nature. Like the friend who put the $100 into a thank-you card and “asked a friend to hand it to the clerk at Duane Reade who regularly cheers her up.” Another friend gave the whole $100 to the most frequent commenter on her blog, and another gave it to a woman he saw collecting bottles off the street. Don’t you just love it?

What’s more, the initial $900 of giving spurred a website called The Secret Society for Creative Philanthropy. The flavor of their site is really different from ours, but the basic idea of people giving gifts and money anonymously (and posting about it) is the same. Kind of neat how two such similar ideas can still be so different, isn’t it?

And now, onto to the business of Elf Tuesday:

Our Elf winner this week is…

Peppermint!

Congrats, wonderful Elf! I’ll send the money via Giving Anonymously. They should contact you shortly, and then you’ll receive the check within a week or so. (And by the way, no pressure to do anything crazy or creative or to make a youtube video of your exploits, ha!)

OH, and I almost forgot: I’m going to be out of town for a long weekend, leaving Thursday, so I won’t be able to post my usual Friday post. I will try to check in and make any Elf posts live, though, if I can. And I’ll try to bring some fun Elfing stories home with me — I’m taking a cue from all of you, and am going to be dropping little cards and gifts all over the place!

Happy Elfing, everyone!

I just adore nice people. I love knowing about them, I love hearing about them, I love reading about them, and I just love, love, LOVE gifting them.

Today’s recipient is Sabrina Gilchrist. She is a dancer. She’s energetic and fun. She’s open and bubbly and filled with optimism. She’s also incredibly disciplined, motivated, and hard on herself. But above all, she’s kind, she’s caring, and she’s fantastically nice.

How do I know all this? I had the pure pleasure of reading about her in an article in The Spectator, the student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire. The article is now nearly three years old, but I’m willing to bet that Sabrina is as lovely as ever. Just listen to this:

Gilchrist, an English major and dance minor, is truly a kid at heart, junior Patrick Orlopp said.

Orlopp, a friend of Sabrina’s, said it is not uncommon for Gilchrist to call or show up at his door just to play in the rain.

“She basically wears rose-colored glasses,” Orlopp said, on Gilchrist’s outlook on life. “She laughs more than anyone I know. It really brightens up everyone else around her.”

And how about this:

Last semester Gilchrist made it a mission to meet a new person every day, said dance professor Toni Poll-Sorensen, who has been one of Sabrina’s instructors for nearly four years.

“She would come in and say ‘I made someone smile today!’ or ‘I made a new friend!’” Poll-Sorensen said. “It was pretty wonderful.”

Really, you guys just have to read the whole article. You’ll be glad you did.

In fact, she just seems so utterly gift-worthy, that what I really want is to gift not just her, but absolutely everyone associated with her. I want to gift her mom for raising her, her dance instructor for supporting her, her friends for valuing her, and the author of the article for choosing her as a subject.

Hey. You know what? I think I AM going to gift the journalist who wrote about her. Of course I am! Because darn it, it’s a great article. And from what I can tell, the writer (now editor) is hard-working, skilled, dedicated, and fully deserving of a treat herself. Plus, she’s still a college student, and I can’t think of any college student who wouldn’t like a little extra money for something fun.

So there, how ’bout that? It’s a spontaneous two-fer this week. What fun! Sabrina Gilchrist for being so darned awesome, and Janie Boschma for the wonderful service of touting her in such a fine, well-written article.

A big congrats to both of you. I hope you enjoy your gifts. And thank you for brightening my world!

I was so excited to be gifted the $50 prize a few weeks ago. I spent some time thinking about what I could do with the money and was, frankly, overwhelmed by the possibilities. Should I give it all at once or split it up? Should I hand a stranger something or stick it in a book or newspaper? Then I read about giving by using cashiers and thought that was a brilliant idea. I decided on a gift card for our local supermarket, because who can’t use groceries? I figured I’d walk in buy a gift card and leave it with the cashier to dispense as s/he thought best. (Thanks to the elf with that lovely idea!)

As it turned out I found the person that I was to gift the grocery card to myself. A wonderful person who is quick to help others and passionate about change. She is a single mother and small business owner. It just clicked. I went to the store the next day and purchased the gift card, came home and addressed the envelope and sent it out. I’m so happy to be able to help brighten someone’s day. I can’t wait to do it again!

Dear Great-Great-Grandma:

I know life was hard for you. I know you were hungry a lot, and cold. I want to write and reassure you that I, your descendant, am rich beyond your wildest dreams.

I live in a good solid home, warm and dry. We’ve got a strong roof and sealed wood floors, and big windows to let the light in. Even in the worst weather we are as safe and cozy as a dream. I know you didn’t get to have that in your lifetime.

This is going to blow your mind away, so get ready for it: I have THREE bathrooms. My bathrooms are IN the house. They are clean, comfortable, warm and safe. No cold, dark, dirty outhouses for this girl. And my two kids? They each have their very own bedroom to sleep in. They don’t need to sleep five to a bed like you did, because our house stays warm and dry all night long.

My home has running water, too. Anytime I want, I can turn on the faucet in my kitchen or my bathrooms and get clean, cold water to drink or clean, hot water to wash with. We bathe in giant tubs filled with fresh warm water, every single day. I am not exaggerating! And we don’t even have to share the bath water. When we’re done, we just unplug the drain, and it drains itself. No mess. Can you imagine?

I have warm clothes, and plenty of them. Right now, I’m wearing a fuzzy purple sweater and soft woolly socks. I have a drawer full of sweaters and socks, and I didn’t make a single one myself. When I need to go out, I have a coat stuffed with down feathers and gloves and a scarf and a hat and even nice thick boots. I have everything I could possibly need to keep myself warm and dry. I know you didn’t always have that. I know you were cold a lot.

Great-great-grandma, I just want to let you know: I have plenty of food. More than I could ever need or want. I know you went hungry a lot. Rest assured that your descendants are very well fed. We have this thing in the kitchen called a refrigerator, and it’s just filled to the brim with healthy, delicious food kept fresh and cold, like magic. I’m looking in it right now. I’ve got milk, cream, apples, oranges, cheese, pudding, chicken, sausage, lemons, peppers, greens, jams, jellies, peanut butter, and fresh squeezed juice, and get this: IT’S FEBRUARY.

I’ll wait a bit while you pick yourself up off the floor.

Now, I know that you lost some of your children to death, and that most every other family you knew did, too. I want you to know that most of us now, where we live, expect to give birth to strong healthy babies who live long healthy lives, and for the most part, that’s exactly what happens. My two kids are healthy and strong and full of life. When they do get ill, there is a good clean hospital nearby with highly trained doctors who will not turn us away. More than anything else, I wish I could give this experience to you. I’m so sorry you knew such sorrow.

Oh, and education? Great-great-grandma: I went to college. So did my mom, and so will my daughter. It’s a given. Where we live, every single child is able to go to school starting at age five, all the way through till they are eighteen. No more quitting in the sixth grade because you have to work. I know you wanted education so badly, and I know it broke your heart not to get it. Please know that I enjoyed every minute of mine. I’ve read all the great works of literature, I’ve studied philosophy, psychology, world religions, a variety of sciences, music, art, and so many wonderful things. I wish you could have been there with me!

And by the way, I have this thing called a car. It’s this amazing, miraculous machine, where you get inside and step on this pedal and whooosh! You can go anywhere you like, fast as you please, over smooth, well-paved roads. It’s got soft cushiony seats and it’s all sealed up so that the wind and the rain can’t get to you at all. Can you IMAGINE a thing like that? It’s got heat for when it’s cold, cooling for when it’s warm, and this thing called a radio so that we can listen to music while we drive. It doesn’t require animals to pull it, so when we get home all we have to do is turn it off and go inside, easy as you please.

I could go on and on and on. I know you must be very shocked that a descendant of yours could ever have so much.

I want you to know that I’m not taking it for granted. I know how very lucky I am, and I am so very grateful for all that I have. I lie in bed at night sometimes, feeling so cozy and comfortable, healthy and full, warm and safe. I listen to the rain on my roof and I think of you. Sometimes I wonder if perhaps I am so rich because of your prayers. Did you pray that your children’s children not feel your pain and your suffering? If so, I’m here to let you know: It worked.

Thank you Great-Great-Grandma. I hope that wherever you are right now, you are feeling as rich and happy as I am.

All my best,
ABM

p.s. The $50 Elf Giveaway winner is…

dum-de-de-dum-dum-dum…

One of our very newest Elves… it’s angel!

Congratulations, angel. I’ll be sending it along via Giving Anonymously. Hope you enjoy it!

If I gave you $100 or $500 or $10,000 dollars, just because I thought you were lovely, how would you feel? Would you accept the gift, feeling expansive, honored, and gracious? Or would you shrink from the gift, feeling uncomfortable or even ashamed? Would you ask me to please pass it on to someone more needy, or more worthy?

If you are among the latter, I want to talk to you. I want to convince you that you DO deserve a gift.

I’m not saying that you deserve it because you are extraordinary or exceptional or even particularly virtuous. For all I know, you are utterly, shockingly mediocre. For all I know, you are shockingly worse than mediocre.

To which I say: So what?

Look. Maybe your house is a big disgusting mess. Maybe you yelled at your kids this morning or snapped at your husband on his way out the door. Or maybe it’s that you’re fat, and you believe that only thin and fit people deserve love. Maybe you never finished that degree, and you cringe every time you think of it. Maybe you are a procrastinator who never follows through on anything. Maybe you struggle with addictions or mental illness. One way or another, you have let yourself down. You are furious, ashamed, and disappointed because somehow, someway, you know you are supposed to be better than this.

Let me suggest to you, gently, that your feelings of unworthiness stem not from humility, but from ego. It’s your ego that’s telling you you should be other than what you are. Your ego is pushing you, whipping you, and abusing you. It’s trying to convince you that if you could just be a little different, a little more, or a little better, that you will somehow reach some mystical, magical place of worthiness, and all will be well.

Well, screw it. Your ego is a damned sham. It’s telling you dirty lies. Say it with me now: “Screw you, ego. I’m fine just as I am. I am worthy. I am enough.”

And then: Celebrate yourself. Be kind to yourself. Even if you are fat. Even if you haven’t done laundry in three weeks and sent your kids to school in dirty jeans. Even if you’ve failed yourself, over and over and over again.

Step out through your back door, right now, look up at the sky, and demand a gift. Claim it. Say it out loud: “I am lovely. I deserve a gift.”

And then, when you step back inside, do me a favor and stop being so darned hard on yourself. Shift your focus away from what you are not, back to all that you are. Notice when you hold a door open for someone. Notice when you smile at a baby. Notice when you kiss your kids goodnight and read them bedtime stories. Notice the warmth in your heart. Why should you be more than this? You are not perfect now and will never be perfect, but you are enough.

Forgive yourself everything.

When you can do this, you will find true humility. And that is when, finally, you will be able to receive your gifts gladly. And that is when they will begin to arrive, plentifully.

Now, onto today’s recipient:

I am happy to announce my very first reader recipient nominee! The nominees I’ve received so far have been utterly fantastic. I can’t begin to tell you how happy they make me, so be sure to keep them coming. I have already added several to my giving list for sure, and it was such a pleasure to do so. But today, for my first pick, I could only choose one, and I picked K., sister to Devon. Here is why Devon thought she ought to win:

“She’s my sister… she’s probably not your typical nominee… but she deserves something wonderful to happen to her! She works full time and is starting nursing school, because after 4 years of college and 2.5 years in the business world, she decided she’d rather take care of people. She doesn’t make a lot of money but her job will help her in the nursing field so she likes it.

She gives to charity – she has two sponsored children in the Third World – but mostly I just wanted to nominate her because it would be amazing if she won a nice treat for herself “

Devon: Thank you so much. Your humble nomination exactly fits the bill, and I couldn’t agree more: Your sister deserves a treat!

K., I hope you enjoy it. You DO deserve it. You are absolutely lovely. Hooray!