Yesterday four street kids came in who had heard about the grateful bowl. I explained everything to them and they sat down. When I asked how much they'd like to donate they emptied their change cup full of pennies and said "here."
A woman waiting for a to-go order saw this and handed me five dollars. She said, "This is to cover them."
They saw this and thanked her. The four of them looked so hungry, and happy about the food. For the other customers witnessing this interaction one donated $14, and another paid ten for their bowl after seeing all the generosity.
Yesterday made me feel so excited that we offer the grateful bowl, we are helping so many capable people down on their luck make it through so that they can offer their gifts to the world.
I am inspired.

-Marisa

I am here, writing to you about an invitation to play:  Play that every day you wake up is your birthday. Yes, your actual birthday.  You can choose it to be any day that is especially magical for you.

A couple years ago, I started playing this game with life and myself. At Cafe Gratitude, we learn about and practice, being-ness. So, I began playing that every morning I woke up, it was Christmas. Christmas always has been a most magical day for me. My whole life, there was a particular feeling of Christmas morning and all day it lasted.  So I thought: I can be that feeling every day of my life!  After a while of awesomely enjoying every day and upping the magical feeling to every day, it was July, my birthday month. So, I changed up the game. I took on playing that every morning when I woke up, it was my birthday.  This has been one of the best months of my life. Every day had a tangible quality of extra-ordinariness. 

I was always the caretaker, tending to the needs of everyone else. It was very difficult for me to do or buy things for myself, I always felt guilty. I had been taught that it is better to give than to receive. I was over 50 before I ever went on a real vacation. I just couldn't spend the money or imagine what I would do. I knew I would feel guilty if I went somewhere without my children and how could I afford to take them? I kept myself busy with work, busy with providing for us. My work defined me, created what I saw as my value. I couldn't imagine spending idle days, doing what? Then Matthew took me to Hawaii and I found myself swimming in warm sea water and simply relaxing, allowing the Aloha spirit to sink in, for the first time in my adult life. It was wonderful and confronting.

I began to realize that when I let someone else contribute to me, I am actually giving them the gift of giving. Again I had to practice this way of giving so that I could learn that it is valuable to allow others to give just as it is also great to receive. I have received a lot in the past several years and this has made a huge difference for me, I had to push past guilty thoughts that I was unworthy, undeserving or would be indebted.  I have learned to love to give and receive.