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Special Days

Guest post by: Mary Allen

Article Overview: We have birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays to celebrate. But, wouldn't it be nice to be honored on just an "ordinary" day?

Special Days

We have birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays to celebrate. But, wouldn't it be nice to be honored on just an "ordinary" day? It's fun to GIVE, and it's fun to RECEIVE. The Mullin Family created a unique way to do this. Last week happened to be Jim's "special day". Here's how it works. First off, the "special day" is a complete surprise to the "special one"...his wife and two kids did all the secret planning. They organized the evening, selecting his favorite foods and activities that he would surely enjoy. Sushi was the pick this time. The focus of the evening was "all about Jim", and making him feel special, loved and appreciated. Everyone contributed. When he got home, his daughter treated him to a foot spa and massage. His son created hand-made a card that said, "What John appreciates about Dad". Jim received a CD that he'd been wanting and a beautiful card of appreciation from his lovely wife. They watched a favorite movie, and waited on Jim all night - asking, "Can I get you anything else?" They were all eager to give, and Jim's only job was to focus on RECEIVING.

The ritual is something they do randomly every few months or so, rotating among family members. They note when someone has been working particularly hard, or just seems to need some extra love and nurturing. It usually involves everyone writing a special poem or letter stating "what I appreciate about ______ is...." The family's focus is on GIVING, while the recipient's job is purely to RECEIVE. Feel free to try this with those you love and cherish. All ages are sure to appreciate this act of kindness.

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Article Tags: act of kindness, anniversaries, appreciate, birthdays, give, holidays, ordinary day, receive



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