Giving-ness {The Me I Want To Be}
In my new Universe, I’ve met some amazing people who truly do give. In so many ways..in person and via the written word, in thoughts and acts, big and small. From a personal perspective and a professional one. Just this week, I’ve seen the most selfless of selves, handing out their knowledge and passion and enthusiasm so plentifully. With unfaltering support and pure intentions. No expectations of a return, generous simply because they don’t know how else to be. And while I was noticing the selflessness, I was also noticing the happiness that seemed to radiate too.
And then, because people are not made perfect, I’ve sometimes glimpsed the opposite of that. Random acts of unkindness and selfishness that come from a place of fear. Reactions to events that were never intended to be hurtful or harmful. Poor assumptions. An inability to remember that we are all just making. our. own. way. there. As we should. As we are entitled to. Don’t we all dream as children of becoming something special? Of making our parents proud? Don’t we all grow up and wake up each day with the hope that we will become what we long for, either through hard work or luck or a portion of both? Isn’t it okay to want to be just a little bit amazing? Even if it means the fragile, hopeful person next door is sometimes amazing too? We all yearn to reach our full potential yet it’s easy to just become lost in worry that someone else might just do it first. Or better.
There are opportunities every day of our lives to either be giving, or be resentful. To open our hearts and freely give without expectation and to be amazed at just what comes back. Or to expend so much energy in trying to hold tightly what we see as ours and ours alone that we’re completely consumed by fear, missing out on the chance of so much beauty and thankfulness in return.
I know I always try to teach with this approach but I want it to be more than that. I aspire to live with giving. Whether it be knowledge or support or concern, or whatever else it might be, I am striving to give with a whole heart. Every. Single. Day. To live by the idea that something cannot be taken if you give it away. And if I do happen to slip, as I no doubt will, I’ll forgive my human-ness and try better next time. I will give myself leeway.
To those who I’ve shared beautiful conversations with this week regarding this very thing, thank you. To Fran, for giving me the “pretty” in the picture (and so much else), thank you. To Ava, for always providing the inspiration to be the me I want to be (and the you I think you would have been)..my darling, thank you.
x
64 shared sentiments
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You are a beautiful person. So much of how I want to be, but had never put it into words. Fear is a scary thing, and it can cripple us. Thank you for writing this.
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beautifully written…
~S
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Sheye, there are so many things about this that resonante with me on so many levels. Thank you for your “giving-ness” in sharing this with us, once again you’ve brightened up my day :-) xx K
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beautifull = tears right now xx <3
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As my throat tightens, as my eyes water, as my heart swells,
You have once again inspired me. Today. And forever.
Thankyou.
x x x
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So beauty fully written, Sheye. I completely understand & connect with this. Thankyou X
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Beautiful
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You are FIERCE Sheye. Fiercely beautiful! Reaching out and giving you a “fist bump” right now girl! Huge hugs. Huge, huge, hugs!!!
Much love,
Angie Seaman
http://www.angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/
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“….generous simply because they don’t know how else to be”.
I love this. It’s exactly what I was trying to express to a friend the other day but without much success lol. We were having this very conversation (well parts of it) but again, perhaps not with the same articulation as you Sheye :P
I think we are very lucky to come across selfless people and for me, they have often appeared at the most appropriate times.
Much love x
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oh how lovely. i found your blog recently and have fallen in love with your words. what a beautiful person you are and what a beautiful family you have.
i too, have thought about this concept a lot lately and love how you have articulated it. i am learning that the only way to receive the love we want and think we deserve is to give as much of it away as we can. it comes flooding back ten-fold just about every time. :)
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Beautiful words, Sheye. Hope you can get closer to the one you ant to be.
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what an inspiring thought to start the day – i so needed that. thank you for sharing.
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You always seem to say what I cannot put into words..You are such an incredible person.
Thank you, for being YOU!!!
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Love you. xo
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Sheye
So many times I have wanted to write something to acknowledge how your words and thoughts have got me through the most difficult year of muy life. I lost my little girl Poppy nearly exactly a year ago (on Tuesday to be exact). She brightened this world for seven short hours but will be in my heart for a lifetime.It was unexpected and a shock to all. One thing I promised to her that I would be the best person I possibly could, and yesterday I felt I let her now. I pride myself on being thoughtful, because as you put it I don’t know how else to be and I just happened to be thoughtless. Luckily, after being brave and admitting my mistake and confronting the friend it is all ok, but I just am so upset that I have let Poppy down. I just wanted her to be so proud of her Mum. She forgives me I know, but it reminded me to be that person I want and deserve to be. On Tuesday we will send up some balloons and a poem to her and TRY to celebrate her few hours with us, at least we had that. And I will continue to try to breathe, and grieve, and make sense of this cruel world. Your daughter was a beautiful beautiful girl, and you are my inspiration that life CAN and will be beautiful again.
Thank you xxx
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we should all strive for such untouchable and unwavering selflessness. The world is full of so much goodness… it would be the fulfillment of a dream, to share that.
hugs
you are such a wonderful person
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this lesson..moral…reminder, is so close to my head and my heart these days. as are you. xo
p.s. you are a lot more than a little bit amazing ;)
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A beautiful message and why I keep coming back to read your inspiration. Your words make me want to be better.
thank you!
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thank you, for all of the giving you have done… you have changed all of us, more than you could ever know.
with much love today & always.
jules xo
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yes – I am so new to this world of photography on a working level – and I have found some incredible people who are so so willing to share their incredible knowledge and have also come across others too fearful and insecure to share……I am so quickly discovering that whatever you share and give with true intentions really does come back to you tenfold. What an amazing way to choose to live your life.
Thank you for sharing. x
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I think you are a beautiful person. Your talent is beautiful and your soul reaches out to me everytime I visit your blog. Thank you for sharing yourself.
Much love
yvette
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You have an awesome perspective. Thank you for sharing it.
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If this is who you aspire to be Sheye, you’re doing a darn good job.
For giving and sharing of yourself, thank you.
Love Sherri
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Your words are always so beautiful and profound! I was reading them out to my husband and couldn’t make it to the end without wiping away tears! Your blog touches so many in so many different ways, you are a beautiful person Sheye on the inside and the out. Thank you for making me want to strive towards being a better person, sometimes all we need is a little reminder of how the small things we do can mean more than we will ever know and all we need to do is reach out and the love will shine through!
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Your words are always so beautiful and profound! I was reading them out to my husband and couldn’t make it to the end without wiping away tears! Your blog touches so many in so many different ways, you are a beautiful person Sheye on the inside and the out. Thank you for making me want to strive towards being a better person, sometimes all we need is a little reminder of how the small things we do can mean more than we will ever know and all we need to do is reach out and the love will shine through!
Lol I did it again I accidentally sent my message with someone elses name sorry Trudie, I wonder how I do these things sometimes xx!
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Gorgeous. Beautiful. A thousand times Lovely!
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For someone so young to be reading this {like i am} it’s just amazing, because i can grow up with these words of your wisdom and use them to help me.
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Dang, Sheye, you just brought a huge smile to my face with this post. It’s so wonderfully written (I think I just made up words), thought provoking and flat out beautiful! Thanks for being amazing :)
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you wrote so many wonderful things that i could paste all over my kitchen so i could be reminded of them daily. thanks!
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Thank you. xxx
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My friend Krista lost her Ava a week ago today to complications of a tonsilectomy, she was 2. I have had such immense greif for her these past 7 days and can’t begin to wrap her grief around my brain/heart. When the time is right I will lead her to your website so she can read your beautiful words and maybe be comforted in some way. Every time I visit this site I find such peace and comfort and hope that one day she will as well. Thanks for your words. Wendy
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sheye…thank you for a reminder we all can use. you are truly L*O*V*E*L*Y…
xoxo
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Thankyou Sheye,
for these words, you express from your heart and people respond, that is such a brave thing, but i know you are used to having to be brave in life.Your post has reminded me to express more of what my own heart feels upon my blog and to add more personal content. Its through that, that i feel the most in line with my purpose in keeping an online journal. I need to reassess a little and your post has certainly helped me to see the value in writing this way.
All the very best in being your truest self, Kat xx
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xxoxx How is it possible your talent for writing matches your talent for photography? More dinners please :) xxoxx
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Love to you, your sharing truly is life changing, thank you for being the Beauty-Full one x
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Wow, this is beautiful. A concept I’ve tried to wrap my mind around but one I’ve never taken the time to put into words. Thanks for processing, sharing beautifully, and uplifting the rest of us.
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Sheye,
Of all the things I typed and deleted because your words are so profound that mine cannot compare….I will just say this… you are amazing and beauitufl in so many ways. Thank you for your sharing and gracious heart. I have learned so much from you about who I am and just who I want to be. You truly are an inspiration!
Emily
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Where do your words come from…heaven I think! Love to you xx.
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Sheye-Thank you for sharing this! It was a beautiful thing to read and I feel inspired to do better and to be more open to opportunities to support others. I am trying to pursue my dream and I love the idea of sharing my passion along the way. :)
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Words to live by. Yes indeed. You give me clarity with your words. xx Kati
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Sheye – you have such an amazing ability to write. I wish everyone could read this post because these are words to live by. Words that I WISH everyone lived by, but sadly people don’t. And its funny, this is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Why can’t we all be cheerleaders for each other? Why can’t people reciprocate the sharing of knowledge, the building of confidence? It feels good to share, to cheer, to teach. If only everyone could recognize that. So glad that you do and have the amazing talent to say it so eloquently.
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a beautiful sentiment and beautifully stated. you inspire with every word you write — a true gift. thank you!
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This is a wonderful reminder for me of how I should strive to be. Many times I am selfish, unloving, and harsh simply because I fear. I fear being not in control of a situation. I fear the unexpected. Giving and sharing myself, my time, and my resources requires me to let go of my fears for the greater good…to be not in control and to embrace the unexpected. Thank you for such a thought provoking post!
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I am so touched by your story. I am touched by Ava. My daughter is 18 mon and reminds me somewhat of your girl. Of everything, you have showed me to breathe her in a little deeper and live every second with her. (and take lots of photos :)
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you know how much i love and cherish this post. thank you for being you and inspiring so very many. i adore you so!!
love and many hugs,
deb
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i cant find your email, your loveliness link is not working, not sure if its just me..
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These words go so deep, they mean so much on so many levels. “To live by the idea that something cannot be taken if you give it away.” This, I believe, can truly make me a better person. Thank you. xx
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I love seeing in frames, I love the beauty in the ordinary, I love my camera, I love that when I see images I hear too. I love the latelight, I love finding moments I didn’t imagine and I love creating moments I did. I love learning more every day, I love sharing what I’ve come to know, and I love making pictures pretty.
I’m so glad you stopped by. xx
Beauty full. Just so beauty full.