Thursday, December 24, 2015

Giving & Telling?

Zestful Blog Post #138

Social media, including blogs, especially blogs, can be a challenge for those of us who were brought up not to boast. Is that a humblebrag right there? It is, it is! I’m sorry. Hopeless situation. Here’s my issue today: Charities and those who give or serve have the dilemma of telling about the giving vs. not telling. If you tell, it seems boastful, yet perhaps by telling one can prompt others to give. If you don’t tell, you’re safe from any boast accusations, yet by keeping it secret you relinquish the possibility of suggesting the idea to others.

What the hell. After I post this, I’m off to donate blood. I do this regularly; I got the email a few days ago notifying me that I’m eligible again; I decided to schedule my donation on Christmas Eve day. My reasons, actually, are selfish: The donation center is unlikely to be crowded, and I can eat large portions of Christmas fest food for a couple of days with the perfect excuse of having to build my life juices up again. Plus, OK, yes, it feels more special to do it today.

Donating blood, if your health permits, is such an easy way to give a gift no one can buy. That’s message #1 of 2 from me today.


[This is the most elaborate Christmas display on a private residence I’ve ever seen. It’s our neighbors’ house a few doors down, and it's only a partial view. I mean, that's a life-sized Angel Gabriel on top of the garage. The people are new, and I’ve got to catch them and tell them of the awesomeness of their work. Wish I'd had a tripod for crisp focus, but you get the idea.]

Message #2 is this. Thank you, my friends, for giving ME gifts throughout the year, gifts that can’t be bought: your attention and your esteem. Your sharing of your ideas. Thank you for being with me.

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8 comments:

  1. Thank you for giving blood. I wouldn't be here today if a nun at St Joseph's Hospital, Albuquerque NM, hadn't given a pint of her blood for a newborn with RH disease (it's got a scientific name) which can occur when the mother is RH negative and the baby is RH positive. Her immune system attacks the baby's blood. I was the first to receive this new treatment in Albuquerque in 1947. My mother then gave blood for years after to help the research that developed a vaccine given to RH negative mothers immediately after giving birth. I've met some mothers that received the vaccine and always tell my mother about them. Love, hugs & Merry Christmas! KT

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  2. Hey, Special K! That's a great story. Thank you for sharing it. Love & hugs & merry Christmas back to yall.

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  3. Liz, NE of Rattlesnake, FLDecember 25, 2015 at 4:56 AM

    Another great post, Elizabeth! Thank you for your insight and willingness to share with your readers and friends throughout the year. Your first message had me thinking about giving...doing...humility...bragging...and that stream reminded me of those annual Christmas letters some families used to send before FACEBOOK arrived that told of all their accomplishments the past year. While generally panned as too self-promoting, I loved receiving those! It was an effort to keep connected. I applaud effort! Well off topic but a fun reminisce for me. Merry Christmas!

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  4. Hey Liz, great to see this from you. Hope you had a great Christmas.

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  5. Thank you for sharing your insight, knowledge and experiences. Thank you again and Happy New Year’s!

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  6. I was a preemie who also had RH factor, I was born in 1963. Plus I was a blue baby, breach and had yellow jaundice. So I was a mess and needed several procedures done, including a full transfusion.

    Now I've always wanted to donate blood, but unfortunately, I've very small veins. I always got told that I wasn't a good candidate for donation.

    After I had cancer in 2014 I was told that I couldn't even have blood drawn on that side due to my surgery. So the only arm that had a fairly decent vein to get blood out of was now off limits.

    Having blood taken now is rough. Even getting an IV in for surgery was so hard that they had to put it up on my shoulder by my neck.

    I'm really supportive and grateful for all those that can donate. Thanks so much for donating!

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  7. Gosh, you're welcome, Lauren. Glad you survived your difficult start in life!

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