Book ~ "29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life" (2010) Cami Walker

From 29giftsbook.com ~ One month after her wedding day, thirty-three-year-old Cami Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the life she knew changed forever. Cami was soon in and out of L.A.’s emergency rooms with alarming frequency as she battled the neurological condition that left her barely able to walk and put enormous stress on her marriage. Each day brought new negative thoughts: I’m going to end up in a wheelchair. Mark’s probably going to leave me. My life is over. Why did this have to happen to me?

Then, as a remedy for her condition, Cami received an uncommon prescription from a friend, an African medicine woman named Mbali Creazzo: Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

“By giving,” Mbali told her, “you are focusing on what you have to offer others, inviting more abundance into your life.” The gifts, she said, could be anything but their giving had to be both authentic and mindful. At least one gift needed to be something she felt was scarce in her life.

Cami was amazed by what unfolded during her month-long journey.

29 Gifts is Cami’s poignant and unforgettable story of embracing the natural process of giving and receiving. Many of her gifts were simple—a phone call, spare change, even a Kleenex. Yet the acts of kindness were transformative. By Day 29, not only had her health and happiness turned around but she had also embarked on creating a worldwide giving movement.

The book also includes personal essays from others whose lives changed for the better by giving, plus pages for the reader to record their own journey. More than a memoir, 29 Gifts offers inspiring lessons on how a simple daily practice of altruism can dramatically alter your outlook on the world.

I like reading books like this ... books that remind us to be nice and be giving to others.

The premise is that for 29 days you are to give a gift. If you miss a day, you have to start over at day one.

You have to be mindful that you are giving a gift and you have to do it with an open heart (that is, not expect anything in return). The gifts don't have to be large ... they can be material things (like giving a homeless person money or lunch) or as simple as giving your time and attention. For example, yesterday on my drive home from work, I consciously let a couple cars in ahead of me when there was a lot of traffic behind me. Today at lunch time, I consciously opened the door for someone so they wouldn't have to juggle their hot lunch. It can be as simple as that.

Walker has started a website to encourage people to share their experiences. As of today, there are almost 14,000 members.

If you enjoyed The Secret, you'll enjoy this as it's about shifting the energy around you and being open to receive. Whether you believe in this or not, there's nothing wrong with giving gifts to people who need your help.