Attribution

Ho, ho, ho..tis the season to be jolly,not! It is really the season for attribution. Lest this sounds too weighty, consider: How has your life changed since the end of the last holiday season? Is life better or worse in an overall sense? Considering the ups and downs that we all experienced in the last twelve months, what is the bottom line? Are you better off or not?

Attribution is about giving credit to someone for something that he or she said or did. For example, writers 'attribute' quotes from other writers, sources, and material that they did not create themselves. I invite other publications to reprint Modest Proposals provided that I receive 'attribution' for having written the original material. It is giving credit where credit is due.

"OK, fine, but what does this have to do with the holiday season and whether my life is better or not?"

If your life changed in the last twelve months, the change is due to something. Attribution is consciously giving credit where credit is due. Oh, your life did not change for the better? Sorry to hear that, and there is value in understanding (giving credit) why. In fact, there is probably more value in understanding why your life headed south in the last year than in understanding why the past year was fantastic. I leave you to figure that out for yourself with the thought that, although such musings may be a bit painful, they are a gold mine especially if you can let go of any judgments lurking about that absolve you of any responsibility in whatever happened.

Looking at the brighter side of the coin, if this year WAS better, then to what and whom do you attribute the improvement? Who was involved and what happened? What did you learn about yourself and others? The end of the year is a time for many people to give gifts to family, friends, customers, and co-workers. It is easy to get caught up in the act of selecting and delivering the gifts. Remember the adage that it is not important what you give (or receive), it is the thought that is behind the gift. For someone as frugal as I, this is a great concept. Give someone a used wine cork and send it with love! Well, not really, but let's stop and think about this for a moment?

Finding gifts and delivering them takes a lot of time. I am suggesting that you take a bit more time and energize your gifts. No, I am not talking about giving batteries along with the electronic gizmo; I am talking about a different kind of energy, appreciation as attribution. How does this work? It is simple, and for a change, easy. Here's how.

First, the actual gift is immaterial, it can be anything from a fruitcake, necktie, or scarf to diamonds or a world cruise. Second, after you have selected the gift, think about the person to whom the gift is being given. How did that person show up in your life over the last year? What did he or she do that made your life better? How did that make you feel? What emotion does the recipient evoke in you? Third, when you understand the emotion and can verbalize it, bless the gift with that emotion for your blessing really is the true gift. Even if you never handle the gift or see it (mail or telephone order, Internet, or someone else wraps and sends it) you can bless it just as effectively as if you did touch or see it.

It matters not if the recipients consciously recognize your blessing when they receive the gifts. The energy of your blessing will attach to the gift, and will make its way to the recipient's heart. Please remember that energy has no boundaries of space and time, and everything is energy. When you place your energy on the gift by blessing the person who will receive the gift, your energy does indeed become part of the gift. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

One last little suggestion is worth considering. If the emotion that the recipient evokes is not one of compassion and light, think about giving the person a blessing of thanks rather than no blessing at all. Whatever the person said or did to cause you pain was a gift to you. IF you choose to examine the lesson contained within the pain. There always is one. Moreover, in the same light, for those who caused you pain, perhaps you may want to give them gifts when you would not have otherwise done so, and attach the blessing of thanks for giving you the opportunity to learn.

Coming full circle, attribution is giving credit where credit is due. During the holiday season, giving gifts is a traditional way of giving attribution to those in our lives who affect us in one way or another. This Modest Proposal is the suggestion to add your blessing to the gift that will energize the gift far beyond its form or content. This newsletter is my gift to you, and it is surely filled with my love and appreciation for your support. Attribution.

May you be well and discern with compassion,

Ron McCray

Copyright 2003 Ron McCray

about the author. Ron McCray is on a spiritual journey that started in 1991 and continues to lead him though many experiences including studying shamanism, group work, a formal study of spiritual psychology, channeling, experiencing sacred spots around the world, and other practices. As a result of these varied pursuits, his book A Tao Of God clarifies and condenses what he understands about the nature of God, humanity, and the mysteries of spiritual evolution. He is published widely on the Internet, has a monthly newsletter, Modest Proposals, and is an Associate Editor for Planetlightworker.com and the Children of the New Earth print magazine. He can be reached through his website www.ronmccray.com.