Regalos

Let's be honest: who can really define a gift? 

Gift is no more than a name we've given to represent this anomaly of the human spirit: the inclination to give. In my opinion, the desire to give is just as inherent as the desire to take, though appears in varying degrees. Nevertheless, humans in all their opposable thumbed intelligence have made a considerable effort to try and explain their ideas of what a gift should and should not be, in an attempt to regulate the emotion behind the giving.

Lost? Not surprising. 

Let me clear up. When we define gifts, we are defining the ideal way they should be given. (ie: selflessly, without expectation of return), because we WANT them to be given for the purest of reasons. We want people to be capable of giving whole heartedly and the like, because it means we as humans may not be so bad after all. 

So where does Emerson fit into all this? He believes, as do I, that we are capable of giving selflessly, without expectation, and out of the purest joy of our hearts. It's possible. But it's not easy. Our nature is at a war as we try to balance the desire to give and take. 

How many times do we give gifts because we can't wait to see how the people react positively? This is fantastic because it means we want to see them happy. But- this also means we expect to gain some kind of peer validation, or 'i-owe-you' status by giving them a gift they love. They're going to feel, no matter how slight, a need to 'repay,' and this according to Emerson is a sign something is wrong. 

Emerson warns us, (and flat out rebukes us) for giving in this manner. Much of "Gifts" is really a 'how-not-to-give' list in a greater attempt to correct our personal motives for giving. He's not just correcting our actions, but changing our hearts and minds. When he says "the expectation of gratitude is mean" what he's trying to say is STOP BEING SO SELFISH as to expect something in return! If Emerson were to make a list of how to give gifts, it would look like this: 1. its is easiest(but not best) to give someone something they need

2. True gift is to Give of yourself

3. Don't attempt to buy meaning; worth is not proportional to cost

4. Hold no part of yourself back when you give

5. you're in a loose-loose situation when receiving gifts 

6. Do not expect gratitude 

7. "Do not flatter your benefactors"

8. Doing them services is not giving of yourself

9. "Love them , and they feel you"

Ultimately, Emerson says that giving should be an expression of love. For this reason, when one gives, it should be of themselves, without expectation. We as humans believe gifts should be given this way, not just because we WANT humans to be capable of these things, but because we KNOW they're capable. "Actions reveal priorities" as Ghandi said, and as long as we follow Emerson's guidelines for true giving, our motives will be just as pure. 

"Self- Relience" Post 1

"We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents."

As humans, we never fully expose or convey our innermost thoughts or ideas for fear of embarrassment, vulnerability, or recognition of the inalienable light we each unknowingly contain.

Upon reading this quote, my mind immediately jumped to a famous quote: "Our greatest fear

is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure." Emerson's realization and recognition that within each person resides a "divine idea" brings forth a whole new sentiment of self-awareness and empowerment. This so called divine idea, to me, means a certain spark of divine light uncovered by the fingerprints of a very near creator. Being a transcendentalist, i feel Emerson could agree.

By recognizing the presence of said 'spark' we are forced to confront our very human- and often subconcious- fear of exposing the light within, in greater favor of comfortable conformity. We naturally seek approval, and thus are afraid to follow our "Inner Institution" that may lead us elsewhere.

This quote fits perfectly with when Emerson said: "What i must do is all that concerns me, not what people think." After informing us that we each contain an irrepresable light, he gives us instructions on how what to do with this light. He tells us NOT to worry about people perceiving us as something were not, because if we try to control others' we in turn drive ourselves to the point of insanity. He says "SPEAK your latent conviction and it shall be the universal sense." All you can do is act in accordance to your 'Intuition,' and as long as you've gained your own self-contented approval, the world's opinion really won't matter.

Though this may come off as a generic 'be yourself' talk, Emerson gives his message teeth by taking it a step further. Not only should we follow our inner guidences, but be unapologetic for it as well. How do you have any control over others and their emotions? Its not your responsibility, and therefore you shouldn't spend time censoring your actions for the sake of others.

Here's where it gets personal for me. So often I look to the reactions of others to approve/disprove my actions. I allow my self image and appraisment to be interpreted through the eyes of another. We can do more than allow our Divine spark to guide and illuminate our lives- no matter what direction it leads us in- because according to Emerson, those are the places we should never be afraid to go.