Sharing + Friends + Joy

I meet with a group of about 10-12 friends Tuesday mornings at a Denny's restaurant. A friend called to make sure that I was coming today, because they had a birthday cake for me. I've been collecting a bagful of stuff that I was planning to give away. This includes things I've picked up on trips such as:

• 3 wooden butterfly pins from Nicaragua
• 6 Arkansas whetstones
• 1 small book of inspirational writing
• 5 old coins (including a 1909 Canadian penny), I didn't need or want.
• 4 floating foam keyrings in bright colors
• 40 or so 4x6 photos I had taken on a trip to Michigan's upper peninsula
• 1 partridge in a pair tree (just kidding)

During the get-together, I announced: "Ina my country, when'a it'sa person's birthaday, they giva gifts to everybody elsa." I told them two gifts max. per person, except for the photos. I started handing things out both directions around the circle. Nothing came back to me. So I had fun, simplified my life, practiced generosity, and reduced clutter. Four goals with ONE act. Cool!