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Show ....- -'1 0 m ' J Miastfy Susie Davis Why not try giving yourself away today. Someone shared a . portion of himself with me. I got up early this morning to run my daughter into Salt Lake for a haircut. It was 5:45 when I left my room. Taped to the molding of my door was a little white bag. I knew what was in it. As I looked in, I saw what I had guessed. It was a chocolate choco-late turtle from Mrs. Cavanaugh's and it was delicious. I ate it for breakfast! What I savored more than the chocolate, caramel, and nuts (and they were good) was the surprise. It was a little something. It cost about 40 cents but it was as nice as a blouse from Nordstrom's. It truly was the thought. The gift giver was my father-in-law. He lives in a small community in Idaho by himself. Occasionally he comes to visit and loves to share a chocolate with me. . .a shared passion. pas-sion. ..good candy. The evening he arrived he had put another small white bag between the pillows of my bed. Cherry chocolate it was. Yum. I get cards from him with "S.A." written in the corner, standing for secret admirer. Everyone Every-one needs a secret admirer. Maybe you're one yourself. Perhaps you are one who has put a basket of fresh vegetables on a doorstep, or delivered heart-shaped cookies, been the "great pumpkin" and left a bag of candy, or an anonymous note. If you are, you've brightened someone's day. A book that impressed me is entitled en-titled "Try Giving Yourself Away" by David Dunn. He has made a hobby of acting on the warm impulses of his heart. He doesn't believe in giving ex pensive gifts or even money, he believes in giving ideas, appreciation, apprecia-tion, a phone call, a magazine article, arti-cle, compliments. A French proverb goes, "He gives nothing who does not give himself." You might wonder, what do I have to give? Emerson said, "Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing." Give what you are best at or what you might have extra. As I mentioned, something from your garden, flowers or vegetables, time spent reading to a shut in, coaching a team, teaching knitting, or those secret little acts. About ten years ago a singing group was performing in Bountiful. They stayed in various homes while they were here. We had two girls in our home and it was a nice experience. But the nicest and most memorable aspect of their stay was discovered after they left. They had put little notes taped all over the house to be found later, "thanks a million!," "We had fun," "You're really nice," etc. I've had a warm feeling about them that has lasted this long! David Dunn contends, "The world has a way of balancing' accounts with givers-away-provided their hands aren't out-, out-, stretched for return favors." Today, To-day, I decided to become a "secret admirer" and I know that I will feel as the philosopher Miguel de Un-amunoyJugo: Un-amunoyJugo: "It is not the shilling I give you that counts, but the warmth that it carries with it from my hand." |