It's a sneaky, felicitous experience. Paying it forward, kind of, but more as a delicious practical joke with no losers, only happy winners.
Yes, life will grind on, there'll be work at work and work at home, you'll have to clean, make dinner, clean again.
But this little pet project, this will be fun.
My mother does surprise giving often. Here in my kitchen I just found four of the most artful egg and bacon muffins, delivered when none of us were around. The only tipoff was an at-the-time-seemingly-random pro/con question about green onions.
Portable, microwaveable, high-protein breakfasts! I'm telling you, we're all thrilled. This week's mornings are MADE. And there was no "look at me and all the wearying, hard work I did for you", no implied owing-back. Just a sweet gift.
Artful muffin-making might require more effort than most of us are willing to undertake, but what CAN we do? What kind of surprises do you LIKE to give, and who could use them the most?
Are you...
...a good writer? The teacher/minister/office assistant in your life could probably use a heart-felt but anonymous thank you to keep them feeling motivated and appreciated.
...a green thumb? Choose and stealth-deliver a specially-chosen plant, along with instructions on how to maintain its perkiness.
...an avid photographer or scrapbooker? Craft a personalized picture book online and have it delivered to the grandparents, no special holiday or occasion required. Include dorky recital photos!
You get the idea. What's your unique gift, and how can you give it in a way that expresses love and appreciation, without expectation of repayment?
Plan it out, and execute without hesitation. (Waiting for the right time means it'll never happen.)
Why do this? Why work for no credit, no payment, no praise? To get out of your own head for a little while. Set your problems aside and focus on someone else. To be nice, to feel good, that's why. It feels good to make people happy. Try it, I dare you. ;)
