Hello my FTG friends, I have just returned from an eight day stay in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with one of my best friends, my college roommate from decades ago, and another long-time friend. We helped her celebrate a milestone birthday and had a fantastic time. 

As we explored travel ideas, we narrowed in on Punta Cana. In order to get our rooms together, we let the birthday girl make the resort reservations. That was a trick though! She never intended to let us pay for our rooms, even though it was her birthday. She was given a gift and that's how she wanted to use part of it.

I struggled big time to receive her generosity. I spoke with one of my mentors about it and said this just feels wrong, it's her birthday. I have the money. She said if she wants to pay for it, you have to let her. Ugh. This just seemed like way too big of a gift to receive. 

Besides the fact that I thought we shouldn't let her pay for our rooms on her birthday trip, I realized it went deeper than that. 

Accepting a large gift makes me feel like I am indebted to someone, and I like to keep my "scorecard" even. I shared some of my growing up strategies last week--if you didn't read that, click here. 

Another defense mechanism I've used a lot has been making sure I over-give and don't owe anybody anything.

Learning how to receive is important, though, because in order to allow someone else the joy of giving, I have to be willing to receive.

However, my job is to receive cleanly, and I do that by agreeing that I am worth it, and that I am lovable. Knowing that I deserve it helps me accept the gift. And that means I also accept the fact that I don't have to "pay it back."

During our trip, I have thought of her generosity several times and it's filled my heart with gratitude, both at the gift, and my ability to honor my friend by letting her pay. Giving brought her joy. Receiving has brought me joy. Win-win situations are the best. 

For some of us, it's so much easier to give than receive. If this describes you, I want you to look for an opportunity to receive today or this week. Remember, when we insist on being the giver, we may be robbing somebody of the joy of giving. 

Start small if you have to, but open up to the idea of receiving a kindness this week. I'd love to hear your receiving stories in our Facebook group, or send me an email by hitting "reply." 

P.S. 

Check out all the announcements below, including an abstract art demo and book signing at a local gallery's open house in November. See the full scoop at this link. I'll be there 10-2 and I'd love for you to stop by and say hello. 

https://www.allaboutartgallery.com/events/annual-christmas-open-house-and-santa-cop-toy-drive-2025
 

Does today's meditation resonate with you? Please share your voice in our FTG Readers Group on Facebook. Your hopes, thoughts and dreams matter to me.

-——————————————

Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share with a friend.

Announcements and painting of the week are BELOW!

Until next time...

To your gifts!

Angela

🙏 Feeling grateful?! Me too! I love building this community with you. If you want to play a bigger part, you are invited to send a small thank you for your weekly dose of empowerment. Your support helps cover the monthly costs associated with publishing a newsletter, strengthens our community, and keeps the emails coming!  

Thanks if you have contributed, and a special THANKS if you signed up for a monthly or yearly expression of gratitude!

FTG 10th Anniversary Edition is Now Available!

The 10th Anniversary edition of Finding the Gift: Daily Meditations for Mindfulness is NOW AVAILABLE. You will find eight new pages of content including:

• A new afterword with reflections on what's happened since first publishing in 2015
• How in the creative process, we're more assistant rather than creator
• Reflections from devoted readers sharing what the book and weekly emails have meant to them, PLUS
• A link to BONUS meditations—multiple favorites from the last six years of Tuesday FTG emails

Grab a fresh new copy and read it all over again, plus stock up for the holidays, birthdays, and gifts "just because." Some of you were gifted this book and it has continually given to you. Now you can pass it on!

You can find the anniversary edition on Amazon (paperback only), or visit local retailers for the limited gift edition hard cover, as well as the paperback. 

You can also purchase books directly from me. I can personalize them and a custom bookmark will be included for each book. If you want a paperback and a hardcover, you'll do that in separate orders, but they will ship together. Click here to order personalized copies from me.

Thank you for sharing the last ten years with me!

PS

Please add YOUR reader reflections as a new Amazon review! Go here, click on the orange stars at the top and choose "see customer reviews," then select "write a customer review." This is so helpful! Every new review encourages Amazon to suggest it to others looking for inspirational material. Thank you!

YouTube Channel

Check out all the new content, especially the shorts! While I'm not blogging weekly right now, I am posting content on my social channels nearly every day. Are you missing me?! I'm missing you, too! Please connect with me in other ways and be sure to subscribe.

Individual and Group Coaching

If you know there must be more to life than what you're experiencing, but aren't quite sure how to move toward that, my 12-week transformational program, A Life Worth Having could be a fit for you.

Abstract Painting of the Week
If you'd like to see more of my art, please visit my website. Reply to this email if there is something you're interested in. I also offer commissions, and shipping is available.

Going Places 24x30  Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. AVAILABLE!

Want My Monthly ART Updates?

My art-only updates are sent about once or twice per quarter and include art news, interviews, events and shows, current works in progress, behind the scenes info and photos, and stories about my process. CLICK HERE to receive my art updates.

Book Reviews So Appreciated!

If you haven't already, would you please take a second right now to leave a short review on Amazon? That's one of the easiest things you can do to help an author you love keep writing. Many thanks in advance!

Invite a Friend to Join Us?

Do you enjoy my Tuesday emails and know someone else who would appreciate a weekly dose of spiritual food—hope, encouragement and a fresh perspective? Please send them to angelahowell.com/links, where they can click the button to sign up for Tuesday's gifts and updates. They will also receive my free eBook, 10 Secrets to Finding the Gift. Thank you in advance for helping me reach more people.

Retreats

Want to connect with other beach-loving ladies on my Paint, Paddle & Play retreats? Maybe we will add other travel adventures in the future! If you crave real connections with like-minded women, join the mailing list and sign up for priority retreat updates here.