GIVING:

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For a while, we may need to back off from giving as we learn to discern
the difference between healthy giving and caretaking.

To be healthy, to do our part in this spiritual way of life, to be part of
the endless cycle of the Universe, we need to give and receive.

Giving is a fine-lined behavior each of us must seek to understand for
ourselves. It is giving that feels good and does not leave us feeling
victimized.

It is giving based on a desire to do it rather than from a sense of guilt,
pity, shame, or obligation.

It is giving with no strings attached. Or it is giving based on a clean,
direct contract.

Whether it is giving of our time, efforts, energy, comfort, nurturing,
money, or ourselves, it is giving that we can afford.

We can learn to give in healthy ways; we can learn to give in love. We
need to keep an eye on our giving, to make sure it has not crossed the
line into caretaking. But we need to learn to give in ways that work for
us and others.