And observations too. And a question. This is one of those Aha! LLs, this #20. I absolutely love the whole idea of being open to recieve. So simple, so basic, yet so foreign an idea to so many of us.

I spent this morning sending out over 100 launch emails (just re-did the ol' website) to friends and associates. The first two replies I received I was so excited to hear from the person, I had forgotten to thank them for complimenting me on my work when I replied back. Oops. But I caught myself, and have since sent out thank yous to all who have replied to me.

One of the things I am doing as part of the learning-this-process, according to LL20, is to email (or call) someone different each day and thank them for whatever it is I am grateful to (or for) them for. This is fun! This is joyful!

So, later this afternoon I am at the bank waiting in the line and one of the employees comes by with a holiday basket of bank-logo-imprinted trinkets and offers us each one. I said "ooh, what do you have in there" and thanked her in a sweet voice for the silly little computer screen wipes in a plastic thingie (with logo imprint). No one else took anything. All I could hear was, no thank you, no thank you, no thank you. I'm not sure I would've been aware of that before.

A conundrum of sorts:

About a month ago, I was offered a rabbit fur coat by someone I am getting to know. She wanted to give it away and wanted to offer it to me first, but had other people in mind if I didn't want it. I prefer my fur coats fake, so I knew I wouldn't want it. But to be polite I tried it on. Very soft and warm and it fit, but it was so not me. I thanked her, but told her to give it to the next person on her list. How does this work in the scheme of "take it, accept it, then decide what to do it". Did I do that, but then decide to offer it up to the next person on this friend's list?

I gratefully recieve all responses,
and thank all of you for contributing to the forums in general,
Alexandria

I think you did it very accurately according to the lessons. You thanked her, you tried it on, and you understood it was yours if you wanted it. But you didn't and you sent the gift on. Seems like a perfect application! Jazz

Personally, I don't think not accepting the coat goes against SOGR principles I don't think you need to accept every single thing that comes your way, if it does not fit into your life scheme (CM!?), your picture of who you are. Instead, why not thank the person and let them know that you are open to any other things they may be looking to offer in the future? The channels are open, but you do not feel burdened, which would NOT leave you open to receive at all!

Joyce

Thank you Jazz and Joyce for your input and letting me know I'm on the right track. I did let her know that I was open to other gifts and at Thanksgiving she brought me a bag of chocolate truffles, which I gratefully received. Yum!

thanks again,
Alexandria