by Joyce Montgomery, member of Payne County Aging Advocates

The dictionary defines self-giving as presenting voluntarily and without expecting compensation.

During the holiday season, we are reminded of the journey of life, new beginnings, and the hope and joy that we receive from the love and commitment from others.  

Not to be taken for granted are the gifts both physical and ethereal that strengthen our spirit and well-being. Stories of overcoming challenges, strengthening friendships, and creating new adventures, help to provide the determination and resilience that we need to move forward through our daily lives with a sense of purpose and well-being. 

Many teaching moments come from our life experiences, some of the earliest from our immediate families and especially our parents and grandparents who shaped us early in our trust and expectations of the world around us. 

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give,” said Kahlil Gibran. Some of our greatest possessions are our relationships and the memories that come with them.

Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”

If what Einstein purports is true, our historians and our storytellers give meaning to our lives by displaying a contextual reporting of actual past events relative to current issues, thus, providing a gift of value by creating understanding.  As we hear and decipher the meaning of this self-giving, we have the opportunity to learn from those who travel the path before us. Noting the diverse and ever-changing context, we can distinguish between developing areas of need and resources to live, not only a better quality of life, but one of deeper meaning and free of complicity.

As Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Happy Holidays From Payne County Aging Advocates

About Aging Advocates

Aging Advocates, a group of area businesses and agencies in the Payne County area meet monthly to advocate for older adults. From their experiences, they innovate ideas and raise awareness of older adult issues. It is important to look at the developing needs of the aging population and support, educate, and identify services valuable to a life fully lived.