Progressivepam’s definition of “gift” in her reply below (…giving something without expectation of return (either in money or demands or manipulation) shines light on a dilemma I often experience. I find myself reluctant to use “Smile Cards” because I feel like I’m asking people to do something in response to my act of kindness - i.e. pay it forward. That does seem like a dilemma: we want to freely give a gift, yet we also want to raise awareness around the concept by describing and demonstrating how it works. Promoting an idea, however good, sort of implies that you’d like people to embrace the idea.
Maybe the resolution simply lies in the spirit with which you deliver the card. If you can maintain a playful, non-attached attitude, then it’s most likely to succeed.
On Jul 9, 2011 Bill Miller wrote:
Progressivepam’s definition of “gift” in her reply below
(…giving something without expectation of return (either in money or demands or
manipulation) shines light on a dilemma I often experience. I find myself
reluctant to use “Smile Cards” because I feel like I’m asking people to do
something in response to my act of kindness - i.e. pay it forward. That does
seem like a dilemma: we want to freely give a gift, yet we also want to raise
awareness around the concept by describing and demonstrating how it works.
Promoting an idea, however good, sort of implies that you’d like people to
embrace the idea.
Maybe the resolution simply lies in the spirit with which you deliver
the card. If you can maintain a playful, non-attached attitude, then it’s most
likely to succeed.
Does anyone else experience this?