I'm not much of a giver but I learnt a valuable lesson whilst holidaying in Portugal today.
I took my 2 daughters down to the main square in Vale do Lobo, for a pancake.
We stopped at a shop on the way. Instead of candy my 7 year old chose to buy some balloons for herself.
When we arrived at the pancake shop there was the usual dull 2 piece live band playing their cruise ship style music and a few young kids and babies bobbing around looking bored.
Bella blew up a ballon and started playing 'keep it up' with her sister. A couple of the kids wanted to play too.
Bella proceeded in handing out balloons to all the kids in the vicinity. The parents blew up the balloons and knotted them. In no time all the kids were playing with balloons.. and having a great time.
On the way home Bella told me with tears in her eyes how happy it made her to give the balloons away and make the other kids smile.
A feeling I haven't felt for decades.