Imagine you are going about your day, minding your own business, doing what you normally do here, there and far away. Imagine noticing something out of the corner of your eye, a package in a brown paper bag with the words "This is a gift for YOU" written on it. Would you know that the YOU in that message was YOU? Would you dare accept a gift from a total stranger left on the windshield of your car, in your bicycle basket or on a bus bench?
This is my experiment, an exploration of gratitude, of sharing a gift in every sense of the word.
This project began on Thursday, April 9, 2009 with four books left on the UCLA campus and will continue until 100 books have been given away, left here and there from Tokyo to Washington, DC. Each book is signed, numbered and explained on the second page of the book:
"Greetings!
Did you read the note on the outside of the bag?
This is a gift for you.
My name is Christine and this is my creation - you are holding a dream made real. I have received many gifts along the journey of bringing this book to life, and as an expression of my gratitude, I am sending 100 copies of my book out into the world - leaving them here and there, from Tokyo to Washington, DC.
If you feel inspired, I would love to know who you are, where you found the book and anything else you'd like to share about the experience of receiving this gift. You can email me here: christine@swirlygirl.com.
No matter what, I hope you enjoy it. Blessings...Christine Mason Miller"
I was inspired to do this for many reasons, most especially a book called The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World by Lewis Hyde. I picked up this book in Wellington, New Zealand, and by the time my plane landed back in Los Angeles, this idea was born. I will write about the ideas expressed in this book throughout the course of this project, but for now I will begin by sharing this quote:
"...we come alive when we give away what has been received."
In other words, I have received a tremendous gift in the form of my creative talents, and in the pursuit and expression of these talents I have shared these gifts with the world. Throughout all of these endeavors, I have, in turn, received many gifts along the way in the form of support, encouragement and acknowledgement, and this is one way for me to continue sharing, expanding and paying forward these gifts.
It has begun...
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Posted by: jowbagmaLow | June 25, 2011 at 02:42 AM
What a wonderful, giving idea! Paying it forward to the world. Just wonderful! I'm sure this experience is going to enrich your and other lives in so many ways.
Posted by: Kris | February 25, 2010 at 11:11 PM
This is such a beautiful idea, Christine!
I hope you don't mind if I borrow it and do the same with my new CD. Can't wait to see where it ends up!
Jason
Posted by: twitter.com/1WorkinMusician | October 18, 2009 at 02:09 AM
This is a really great idea! I would love to hear about your book travels :)
Posted by: Sheila DeChantal | September 03, 2009 at 07:54 PM
What a beautiful, tangible way to spread magic - "you are holding a dream made real."
Yes, indeed.
Posted by: Jamie | May 26, 2009 at 05:40 AM
This is such a beautiful and wonderfully inspiring project Swirly! I can't wait to see what kind of response you get!! Keep us posted!
Much Love,
Nikki
<3
Posted by: Nikki | May 04, 2009 at 12:03 PM
You rock! What a brilliant idea!
Posted by: Sara | May 03, 2009 at 08:53 PM
what a fabulous idea! the way you share your "gift" with the world is truly lovely! many hugs
Posted by: elyse | April 30, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Wow! Love this idea. Will you never cease to amaze me?? xoxo
Posted by: melissa | April 27, 2009 at 07:29 AM
I absolutely LOVE this idea, Christine:)
Posted by: Kristen Fischer | April 27, 2009 at 05:17 AM
Beautiful Chris, just beautiful
Posted by: mark | April 25, 2009 at 01:44 AM
love love love this idea - what a gift!!
totally cool!
Posted by: stef | April 24, 2009 at 09:41 PM
This is wonderful! Will you share any emails you get from people here on your blog? What an exciting and wonderful project to embark on, enjoy it!
Posted by: Amber | April 23, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Fabulous :) There will be 100 incredibly fortunate people, I know, because I was fortunate to "find" your book and I'm so much better off for it! Thank you, always.
Posted by: Lee | April 22, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Wonderful idea!! Thank you for what you are adding to the world!
Posted by: Emma | April 22, 2009 at 06:53 AM
Simply amazing!
Posted by: C.E.R. | April 22, 2009 at 06:21 AM
it's great to hear you too fell in love with Lewis Hyde's "The gift", which I've been exploring too on my blog - it's an old book but still holds a lot of inspiration in our all-products art culture - being the great artist that you are, you will certainly bring its ideas alive again - wish you the best of luck with your 100 books, wish I was closer so that I could stumble into one :) love, Marina
Posted by: Marina | April 22, 2009 at 06:18 AM
This is such an inspiring idea! I guess I hit your blog the other day at "exactly the right time" and loved reading about the student who found your book. I look forward to reading how each gift has touched the lives of those who are fortunate enought to stumble upon and receive your gift.
Blessings!!
Posted by: Lisa | April 22, 2009 at 05:30 AM
Fantastic....
I did not know you were doing this, but this past weekend, I gifted my signed copy of your lovely book to someone, secretly, that I thought needed your words!!
Posted by: Anna | April 21, 2009 at 06:14 PM
brilliant.
just brilliant.
your heart is expanding to gigantic proportions. soon, very soon, it will encompass the world.
xo
Posted by: Graciel @ Evenstar Art | April 21, 2009 at 06:07 PM
this is amazing!!! of course! Linda
Posted by: linda e | April 21, 2009 at 05:50 PM
I LOVE this idea...
Your book is totally a gift regardless of whether you buy it or you find it. It's a treasure.
I wish you much luck with your project!!
Posted by: kelly | April 21, 2009 at 05:02 PM
What an incredible idea. How inspiring. I think it is fabulous that you are doing this. Rock on!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 21, 2009 at 03:50 PM
this is incredibly wonderful and I wish I had 100 books to leave in 100 places...
I had seen the same thing done last year on youtube by another author and it was fabulous to watch her being sneaky...leaving a book in between stacked jeans in a clothing store, or in a public bathroom or on a chair in an eatery...
she even asked a man selling newspapers to give one away with the next paper he sold...totally cool !!!
I can't wait to see how it all turns out for you !
Posted by: beth | April 21, 2009 at 02:59 PM