Have you ever thought about the gifts you receive from the world, human and otherwise? For example, I am writing this blog in Clarinda, Iowa’s Lied Library, sitting in a comfortable chair, toasting in front of a warm fire, and listening to children read to the library staff. How many people and things did it take to produce this building and all that it contains? After I finish this little essay, I will get into my car and travel a few blocks to Clarinda’s recycling containers to drop off glass, plastic, and paper.

I could spend hours listing all responsible for this library, my car and those recycling containers. Imagine counting all the meals your mother and/or father prepared for you. Consider the little courtesies you receive each day. This morning on the way to the library I and my car met another person and her car at exactly the same moment at an an intersection on the Clarinda square. We looked at each other, she smiled, and motioned for me to go forward. I returned her smile and nudged my car through the intersection, feeling just a little better than I had a moment before.

Prompted by her kindness, I looked for an opportunity to do something for someone else. Walking into the library I made a point of smiling and greeting the first person I saw so that I could bestow a gift. Have you ever thought about the gifts to others and the world that you provide each day? That smile and greeting was a gift, as is, I suppose, this blog. Take a few minutes today and compare the gifts you receive with the gifts you provide. If you are like me, the former will outnumber the latter, by a lot. This is good for me to know and, in and of itself, helps me be more grateful than I might otherwise be. The world gives me a lot more than I give it.

Just this moment I look over to my right and see the library’s Omaha World Herald on the table next to me. Oops, I finished reading it about 30 minutes ago and have not yet returned it to the shelf. I know there are others waiting for this paper because I wait for it everyday I am in this comfortable place. Have you ever asked yourself, what trouble do I cause others everyday? Oh, boy. A very uncomfortable question, isn’t it? I started asking myself this question about two years ago and I would say it has changed my life. Not in the sense that I no longer cause trouble for others. Of course I do, day-in and day-out, but if I had a trouble-meter attached to me I think the daily trouble numbers would be trending down.

Two years ago I was introduced to a Japanese self-reflection discipline called Naikan. An excellent book introducing Naikan is Naikan: Gratitude, Grace and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection by Gregg Krech. The Naikan approach focuses on the three questions I have listed here: 1. What gifts have I received from others? 2. What gifts have I given to others? & 3. What trouble have I caused others?

Occasional reflection on these questions has been a humbling experience for me and also leads me to be more more grateful for the seen and unseen world that props me up each and every day.