I’ve been thinking about this word, generosity. According to the expert Google, it means the quality of being kind, plentiful, large.
I have been on the receiving end of generosity these past five weeks in Singapore. New friends have welcomed me into their lives and shared their insider tips. Our quarantine balcony pals, plus spouses Tom and Danielle, got together a week ago at Steve and Danielle’s gorgeous Coronation Road home for dinner that stretched well past midnight.
The American Women’s Club (aka All Women’s Club) has been a source of a gazillion activities, from arts & culture to nature and urban photo tours, high teas (a tradition fully embraced from British Empire days), running/hiking/tennis/mahjong groups, get your foodie on at various eateries, and more. If I wanted, I could do something every day of the week with these women from around the world.
Yesterday my friend Lez (sister of our Seattle friend Leia) drove me all over Singapore to look at furniture and collect a frangipani plant from someone’s home.
It’s also been a treat to reconnect with old friends, too, including my high school swimming buddy Rhona from Jakarta International School and Pauli (and his wife Tzung Mei) from St. Olaf. I am overwhelmed by everyone’s open arms and generous spirits.
I’ve also been thinking of my dad Richard, who died three years ago yesterday. He was one of the most generous people I’ve known. He modeled this virtue everywhere he and my mom lived, and nothing made him happier than to break bread and have conversation with people from other cultures. He would be overjoyed to know that Tom and I are here.
As the election results drag on, and many in our home country are anxious (as are we), I’m going to try to hold on to this notion of generosity. To accept these gifts from others and to pass them along. Because living from a place of generosity and abundance is far more calming and life-giving than not, especially in the uncertainty of these times.
Speaking of calm, the video is of a gentleman playing the “er hu,” like a Chinese fiddle. He was playing at MacRitchie Reservoir Park last Saturday. Magical.
The photos are from an AWA photo walk at Fort Canning Parka couple days ago. I learned some pro tips from our group leader, so you’ll see I got excited about the iPhone filters. 😉
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