What comes to mind when you hear the words ‘giver’ and ‘taker’? Money? Time? Family? Work? Friendships? Does anybody inparticular come to mind?And how do you see yourself? Are you the one always giving, and you need to set limits? Or are you the one leeching off others and you need to do a self check?
Giving is an amazing attribute! Being a giver means that you want to see others happy, you have the heart of a servant, and you know how to or are willing to to put your needs/wants on the back burner! To spot a giver, look for the ones who are doing things that no one else steps up to do! Watch carefully for the ones who are serving without needing attention! Find the ones who are last in line when there’s a crowd or first to start picking up after others, but also the last to leave! I have found that those who offer up what they have and sometimes what they don’t have, are doing so because deep down they have a true passion to make this world a brighter place!
Takers on the other hand are very exhausting and can deplete the givers, probably without even thinking about! When they make every situation about them (been there done that), it can be extremely burdensome to those who only know how to serve and continuously want to help, but dislike telling others no! Being a taker is very unhealthy for so many reasons. 1. People eventually get tired of giving and you end up draining them on more levels than one! 2. Expecting others to be the ones who always do the inviting, the planning, and the even the paying is detrimental to your friendships, and it could cost you to lose one if you’re not careful. 3. When you take and take and offer nothing in return, then you become a very selfish person, which usually (in my case), causes you to have a false sense of entitlement! Listen to me……don’t be this person!!!
Having a balance between giving and taking is the key! I have friends on both ends and a few who have figured out where the middle is! Me? For a very long time, I was the taker! I wanted to be part of the crowd, but never took initiative! If someone invited me to dinner, I figured they were paying! And when life didn’t go my way, sure…I would call a friend….but it was all about me and how everybody else was scum! And I don’t tell you this because I’m proud of it! I tell you because, thankfully, I’ve been able to recognize that in myself! And now, I love to give! Whether it is buying coffee for my BFF, taking donuts to some teachers, spotting the perfect thing to make my child smile (oreos work well) or even paying a strangers toll, it just fills a satisfaction like never before! Now, I definitely take as many opportunities as I can to make someone else’s day just a little bit brighter! Do I always get it right and never slip into my old ways? Uuummmm NO! But when I am purposefully looking for ways to make others smile, then being a taker is the last thing on my mind!
So ask yourself which one you are. If you are a giver, that is amazing! Keep being a beautiful soul and making the world a better place one day ay a time! But please make sure you set limits and don’t let others take the joy and energy out of what you have to offer! If you’re a taker, step up! Start doing your part and give back! If you dont have money, then help in a different way! Because money is not always what is needed! Don’t be afraid to ask what needs to be done! That question alone will get you on the right path to helping others. Just don’t sit around and continue to let others be the only ones to show effort! You’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel from the inside out!
Enjoy Every Moment 