Generosity isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a quiet, transformative experience that often shows up when we least expect it. In a world that pushes us to armor up and mask our vulnerabilities, generosity asks something different. It asks us to be seen, to be authentic, to risk connection. Right now, with so much tension and uncertainty in the world, generosity becomes a radical act. It’s a choice to meet life ~ and each other ~ with presence, courage, and care.

As I write this, I’m tucked away in the peaceful cottage of friends who gifted my partner and me a few days away. They even volunteered to puppy-sit one of our dogs so we could fully relax. Their generosity isn’t a transaction. It’s a little spell of kindness that lifts everyone it touches, a reminder that giving often comes wrapped in laughter, trust, and the unexpected joys of friendship.

The principle of reciprocity states that we experience what we long for when we generously give it away. For example, if we want more love, we give love to others. If we want more connection, we reach out and connect with others. And it isn’t just giving to others, but giving to ourselves, as well. Showing ourselves approval, belonging, and compassion can help us experience more of those things in our relationship with ourselves and each other. If we believe we and others deserve these things and act accordingly, we will begin to experience more of it in our lives. It’s a little bit magic!

In my work as a spiritual director, I reflect with people on their experiences of giving and receiving generosity. Together, we explore how simple gestures, attentive presence, and heartfelt action shape relationships, cultivate community, and nourish the soul. Generosity isn’t about doing more. It’s about noticing, connecting, and trusting that what we give often returns in unexpected ways.

Generosity also asks us to rethink scarcity. Parker Palmer, in his little book Let Your Life Speak, reminds us that hoarding possessions, love, or attention out of fear creates the very shortage we dread. When we give freely of our time, energy, or resources we often find ourselves more abundant, more connected, more alive.

We’ve all seen it in everyday life: someone holding the door for a stranger, a neighbor checking in, a colleague offering encouragement, a friend giving their time to simply listen. Small acts quietly build belonging. Generosity doesn’t require wealth or status; it asks only for openness, willingness, and sometimes vulnerability. As Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer asks in her poem Big Lesson, “How could we ever greet each other with any words besides, ‘How can I help you?’”

Even small gestures ~ a word of encouragement, a shared meal, a listening ear ~ create ripples that extend far beyond what we can see. In a world that elevates hoarding and self-interest, choosing generosity is both hope and resistance. We may not single-handedly be able to change every system, but we can choose generosity in our own lives, toward others, and toward ourselves.

Where have you experienced generosity recently—given or received?
How would it feel to trust that giving creates abundance rather than diminishes it?

As I sit here at the cottage, watching the sun hit the water, I feel the gift of this time away settling into me. It’s exactly what I needed. A pause to rest, reflect, and simply be. Generosity, in moments like these, heals us as individuals and, through that ripple, the collective. By giving and receiving care, we restore ourselves and, in turn, contribute to a more generous, compassionate world.

If you’d like to explore your own experiences of giving and receiving generosity, or reflect on how abundance shows up in your life, I would love to connect. You can reach out to learn more or schedule a free 45-minute intro session.