29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life

29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life was recommended by my pastor, and I'm so glad I read it. It's full of wisdom and insight, including advice from the author's mother on the secret to a long-lasting marriage, who said "'It's very simple. We never break up. No matter what.'"The story is written by Cami Walker who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) shortly after her wedding. Seeking relief from her resulting depression and her suffering from the disease, a "medicine woman" named Mbali prescribes that Cami give away 29 gifts in 29 days. This book recounts how that prescription changed Cami's life and began a gift-giving movement.Through 29 days of giving, Cami redirects her focus from inward thinking and preoccupation of her disease to outward generosity. She moves from self-centeredness to selflessness, and the positive results on her body and mind are amazing. She is happier and healthier, more capable of accepting assistance for herself, and is more "engaged in life." Her attitude shifted from one focused on what she lacked, to one of altruism and gratitude, seeking opportunities and new paths.I enjoyed reading about the various gifts Cami gave, both large and small, and how each one impacted her. And as I post this review, I just signed up for the challenge myself on the 29 Gifts website, [...]. Before signing up, I highly recommend you read the book first, even if just to get a feel for what constitutes a "gift."29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life is inspiring at the least. Through her book and website, Cami is trying to ignite a global goodwill movement and renewal of the giving spirit. Just imagine our world if everyone took the challenge!

Cami is suffering with M.S., she is also suffering over her suffering. She called her "spiritual advisor" for support and received an answer she didn't expect. Essentially get out of yourself and each day for 29 days give something to someone else. It can be something very simple, but do it consciously with thought.This is the story of how that small actions on her part brought about not only her metamorphosis from self-pitying prescription drug addict totally disabled with MS to a generous loving human being with a purpose for her life and her disease remission. She helped not only herself but many others. [...]. While the book is her story, it includes experiences of others in the epilogue. It is a compelling read.There is a Buddhist practice called Tonglen  The Pema Chodron Audio Collection: Pure Meditation:Good Medicine:From Fear to Fearlessness  in which one mentally takes on the sufferings of others and burns them up with the fire of our own selfishness, turning them into love and giving that love to others. This is a preparatory practice to learn to place others' needs ahead of our own which seems either counterintuitive, martyrish or stupid. Someone once asked a Lama whether it heals others. His answer was ,"I don't know if it helps others, but it helps you."Cami takes this practice into the reality of everyday life and by her actions she is helped.These are troubled times for so many. If each of us to just a moment to help others for the sake of helping, not for the purpose of getting anything in return, what a great world we would have.Here is the prescription:1) Read 29 days: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life2) Give atleast one thing or action for the next 29 days joyously3) See how it makes you feel, you will be surprised.

This book was recommended in another book, so I scooped it up. I wish now that I'd taken a good look at the sample before purchasing it, because it's just a vivid recounting of how she was diagnosed with MS. I recognize that it's the lead-up to the actual story, but the beginning of the book has put me off.Months after I bought the book, I picked it up again and finished it in a few days. It's pretty inspiring to see how the movement has been able to get other people to give small gifts to more people. They do not have to be financial or physical. The author's first gift is a phone call. It's lovely to think about giving from a place of abundance.A year in, she still owes her dad money from the substantial sum that he gave her when she threw a complete tantrum about the huge amount of debt they were in.

I've been teaching chair yoga to people with MS since 2003. So, I've listened to their stories and watched them pour out their hearts over the incredible changes that this insidious disease brings to their life.So, while the author's story is familiar, it is, as ALL MS stories unique. And she shares it with great awareness and clarity.Her friend's solution to the author's mindset/attitude is so life-affirming and transformational--give a gift of any nature for 29 days in a row, keep a journal, notice how your feelings and mindset and attitude changes.Cami Walker documents her journey with great precision and great feeling. I couldn't put it down. And that she started what became an international movement of giving inspires me!And I felt very sad to learn that Cami Walker died this past April. I'm grateful to have her inspiring presence remain with us through her book.

Dedicate 29 days of reading for this book and it will change you

I have read this book when I was down and it totally lifted me up. It gives you a great focus shift and is a good advice in how to be happy again :)

Such a good read! Shipped quick and came in great quality!

un racconto di vita , nato dalla scoperta di una patologia importante, la sclerosi multipla.per chi è interessato ad uno spaccato vivo e personale del vissuto di una giovane donna alle prese con una diagnosi , che si rivelerà un viaggio, un'opportunita per nuove comprensioni.

This book was recommended to me to buy so I did, it has a deep meaning to it of how to give and how to recieve from a place of love and being selfless, however it is very American and written in this way which I found it hard to read ( I got bored ) I do keep trying to read it but am strugglin. Somewhere in there is the deep stuff and it is beautiful ,however for me its not to the point enough. Good book for those who like to go round in circles for a while.