WEEK 38: WHAT DOES SELFLESSNESS CREATE FOR OTHERS BY HATTIE REED

Selflessness is the word that was given to me by “Living52words”. After contemplating this word, “selflessness” this past week, some old thoughts regarding words came forward, too.
When I was a child my great-aunt, told me time and time again, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything”, “Be careful what you ask for” and my dear mother-in-law told me years ago, “Words have power”. Yes, they do! Words evoke emotion, words inspire, words express love (they do lots of negatives, too, but I’m choosing the positives here).

Well, well, what is “selflessness”? It is being “selfless”. It is being “other” focused. It is an action taken for the benefit of another person or persons. It’s giving, it’s kind, it’s not judging. It does NOT have an ego, it does NOT expect a reward, it does NOT expect recognition. It is the “Good Samaritan” a person who gives assistance to those who are injured, ill, in peril, or incapacitated. The life of Jesus, his acts, his teaching, his words are the highest examples of selflessness.

A few years ago, I was curious about my ancestry/ethnicity and submitted my DNA for testing. To my surprise, I found two half brothers and a half-sister. My husband and I saw that one brother, (80 years old, very poor health and in dire straits) needed help; he has lived with us now for 2 years. We chose to do this to improve his life. I tell this now only because after writing about what selflessness is, I see this could be an example of a selfless act.

So, I ask, what does selflessness create for others? Blessings, surprises, hope, joy and perhaps saving a life. What else can you think of?

This week's blog writer is Hattie Reed. Hattie Reed grew up in Oklahoma City, OK.  She and her husband, Randy (her high school sweetheart), moved to Colorado in 1980.  Hattie, with her husband, are the former business owners of Village Frame, a custom picture framing and art store, in Greenwood Village, CO, and in Castle Rock, CO.  Furthermore, she established and managed H Reed & Company, an executive search and staffing company in 2006.  She is an active contributor to the community and served on the Castle Rock Art Commission, as well as supporting her husband during his terms as Castle Rock's Mayor.  In April of 2020, both businesses were closed to pursue retirement, travel, and fun. Hattie enjoys art, DIY projects, knitting, and journaling.  Currently, she is very excited to be working at Nick Lucey’s, Rhyolite Gallery, in Castle Rock. She and Randy have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandsons all living in Colorado.

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