
"Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."
Swami Sivananda
I sent one of my best friends, Ti, a gift last weekend. It was sort of a missed birthday/Christmas gift. We usually get together after the holidays. But we were both either too tired or too sick to make it happen.
So I sent her the gift through a mutual friend and waited days for her to finally get it. No, I didn't take a picture of it, though it was beautifully wrapped, if I do say so myself.
Anyway she finally got it Thursday night and sent me a text overflowing with gratitude. As a matter of fact she sent me another text last night thanking me again.
Ti is an extremely creative person. She took a knitting class at her local library. The next year she was knitting felted bags that would probably sell for $350 each. She made me one for my birthday.
So I decided to make some gifts this year, because I needed a opportunity to get creative with things other than flowers. I wanted to let her know how much our friendship meant to me. So I made her a box full of handmade hearts. But it needed a little something else.
I walked into a Paper Source store on the upper west side of Manhattan and found an incredible book that expressed everything I wanted to say to her.

The book is called Celebrating You. It's a picture book with a simple line of text on each page. Here's an excerpt:
"She makes time for the things that matter. She listens to her heart. She makes ordinary extrordinary."
M.H. Clark
Over the years, I've spent a lot more money on gifts for Tina. But this one. This simple box of hearts and a book meant more to her than any of them.
When we commit to putting our hearts, minds and souls into the small things we do, magic happens.
I bought some leopard and zebra tissue paper to wrap flowers in at the shop. People are losing their minds over it. I just wanted to do a little something special for our customers. I had no idea what an impact it would have.
The next time you're trying to do something special for someone let your heart, mind and soul lead you. Because, it's there you'll find success.
What do you think?
Mimi
Image: ana-rosa tumblr