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Is anything more gratifying than an unexpected gift from a stranger? The answer is “yes,” but we’ll get to that. Several days ago, a friend was shopping at a local dollar store, buying small items to place in gift boxes for children. Her church had given her a debit card with a $150 allowance, and she went through the aisles placing dozens of toys and school supplies in her cart, keeping a running amount in her head. When she got to the checkout, she told the clerk to stop when the total got close to her spending limit. The clerk, a big rough-looking man, started scanning the items. “You sure have a lot of stuff here,” he said. My friend explained what she was doing, that everything would go to children who do not get any other presents for Christmas. He smiled and kept scanning. When the register total came to just shy of $150, he paused. “What about those?” He pointed to the handful of things left in the cart. “That’s OK,” my friend said. “They can go back on the shelf.” “I’ll pay for them,” he said. My friend objected at first, but the clerk was insistent. “I was one of those kids,” he said. “My dad never got us presents for Christmas, and I don’t have any kids of my own.” He scanned the rest of the items, then reached into his pocket for a crumpled wad of bills to pay the balance. Then he put everything into bags and her cart. “God bless you,” he said with a smile. “Every gift requires two freedoms,” author Peter Kreeft wrote, “the giver’s and the receiver’s.” We must be careful to respect the privilege of giving, for it is in giving that we feel our humanity most deeply. As technologies make life more automated, our interaction with strangers is declining. That might seem good to some. But the overall effect is to increase anxiety by depriving us of daily exercise in social skills, something necessary for a healthy democracy. It also removes opportunities to give and to receive. One of the great misfortunes of a prosperous society is that giving and receiving become transactional rather than relational: A class of people deliver goods and services, and a class of people receive them. One group funds the local shelter and the soup kitchen, and another group goes there to get housing and nourishment. One is the host, the other the guest. Many less prosperous societies still follow the ancient practice of bringing a stranger into one’s home for shelter and meals together. The guest and host get to know each other. It is not easy to say who benefits most, because both provide something to each other: the need to receive and the need to give. This practice of relational giving and receiving is retained in the gift exchanges among family and friends during the holidays. It is a chance to remind one another of our interdependence. Yet for those who have no one close with whom to celebrate, this time of year can be especially sad and lonely — not just because they receive no gifts but because they have nobody to whom to give. Their loneliness is a symptom of disconnection at a time of year when relationships with family, friends and neighbors are lifted up and celebrated everywhere one turns. It doesn’t have to be that way. Every community is filled with people who need something. Churches have giving trees. Schools and nursing homes need volunteers. And just about everybody has a neighbor who could use a small box of cookies and a smile. Every year I rewatch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It just might be the best movie ever made. Watching it reminds us that the greatest contribution a person can make in life is to lovingly tend to the relationships where you are. A pivotal moment in the movie comes shortly after George Bailey pulls Clarence out of an icy river. As they are drying off, Clarence explains he is an angel sent to save him. George is understandably skeptical. “Save me!?” he responds. Clarence explains, “I knew if I were drowning, you’d try to save me, and that’s how I saved you.” The gift Clarence gave to George was an opportunity to be useful when he thought the world would be better off without him. Like many of us, George overvalued the worth of his contributions and undervalued the worth of his presence. Even those who have great needs can be raised up by an opportunity to give. It is through the mutuality of both giving and receiving that we experience the grace that shines on every act of shared kindness. Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Romania's new coalition government, led by Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, secured a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday. The coalition, consisting of Social Democrats, centre-right Liberals, and the Hungarian ethnic party UDMR, controls about 54% of the legislative seats. Its immediate challenge is to guide the country out of a political crisis exacerbated by the growing influence of far-right parties, which recently claimed roughly 35% of seats in the new legislature. The government's formation follows a tumultuous series of events, including allegations of Russian interference in the presidential election and public disenchantment over handling of crises like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Ciolacu and most of the former ministers continue in their roles. The coalition aims to solidify voter trust and is strategizing to back a single presidential candidate, currently named as Crin Antonescu, to counter the far-right's influence in the upcoming election. Ciolacu's administration faces the monumental task of reducing a significant budget deficit while adopting reforms to boost economic performance. However, experts like Babes-Bolyai University's Sergiu Miscoiu warn that the government's fragile majority may hinder its longevity, with the 2025 budget being an immediate hurdle. (With inputs from agencies.)Mayor opens clean and safe drinking water facility22jili.ph 。

No. 4 Penn State tries to keep playoff picture out of focus in prep for tough trip to MinnesotaDavid Beckham’s doing it. So is Meghan Markle. With a list of fans longer than Jack’s beanstalk, we ask experts if TikTok’s latest hobby could make us healthier. When you think of Kate Moss, does a pair of pruning shears spring to mind? No? How about Gisele Bündchen? It turns out the supers share more than a talent for the runway, since the notorious nature lovers have been quietly cultivating their veggie gardens for years. And with more than 660 million gardening posts and counting on TikTok, the cover girls seem to have been early adopters of a burgeoning trend for tillage . It’s 2024 and everyone from Meghan Markle (who has made jam from the fruits of her own garden) to David Beckham with his farming forays in the Cotswolds, is a budding botanist. As a passion for plants grows on social media (thanks in no small part to these celebs and their high-end horticulture), the ‘green thumb’ demographic is skewing younger than ever before. Celebs have clearly cottoned on to the benefits, but is it all aesthetics, or is gardening a sleeper hit for mental health? Should we all start bending over flower beds like Beckham? Scientifically speaking, there’s little doubt that time spent in the great outdoors is good for the noggin. In 2022, a multidisciplinary taskforce from the World Federation of Societies for Biological Psychiatry and Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine included exposure to green spaces in their recommended guidelines for the treatment of major depressive disorders. The report also recommended physical activity – another key component of a good gardening sesh. Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides, psychologist at The Wellness Fountain, confirms that connecting with nature can offer meaningful psychological benefits, ranging from reduced stress to improved mood and even a sense of accomplishment. “When people nurture plants, they experience a sense of control and achievement,” she explains. “Then, if we look at the repetitive nature of gardening tasks, this can serve as a form of meditation, helping you to slow down and calm the mind.” And with burnout at an all-time high, it’s no surprise we’re turning to green spaces for some much-needed solace. This is certainly the case for Lee Sullivan, founder of Urban Veggie Patch, who shares gardening tips with more than 150,000 followers on her Instagram account. “My garden has become a haven. Somewhere I can go when life gets stressful or busy to regain clarity and a sense of peace,” she says. Sullivan’s passion for plants blossomed in the wake of new motherhood while experiencing mild postpartum depression. “I found gardening was helping me regain a sense of self, lifting my mood and creating new purpose.” But she’s noticed other benefits, too. “Not only are you eating lots of nutrient-dense wholefoods, caring for a garden can also be great cardio!” A 2024 metanalysis looking into the impact of gardening on overall wellbeing confirms the benefits may indeed stretch further than a healthy mind. Studies included in the analysis linked gardening with lower stress levels, improved emotional resilience, greater community connection and even physical health outcomes – think lower blood pressure and a dialled-down risk of health conditions including type 2 diabetes. A 2024 metanalysis looking into the impact of gardening on overall wellbeing confirms the benefits may indeed stretch further than a healthy mind. Image: Pexels Stuck in the inner city with little more than a windowsill to work with? Don’t let that kill the vibe. Dr Lukeides assures me, “Tending to plants indoors still provides similar benefits.” According to researchers from RMIT and the University of Melbourne, simply sharing your home with greenery might be enough to reap the benefits of what you’ve sown. They found that living with multiple indoor plants can meaningfully enhance both air quality and mental wellbeing. So, slap on your gumboots, some gloves and a cute pair of op-shop overalls, and get planting. We’re rooting for you. More Coverage How to be a better plant parent Melissa King Super herbs: The best herbs to keep your immunity in top shape Charlotte Brundrett Originally published as Why A-List Celebs are hot for horticulture Lifestyle Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Entertainment Punk rock band The Offspring planning Aussie tour in 2025 American punk rockers The Offspring are playing an exclusive Melbourne show on Sunday at one of the city’s most loved venues. Read more Lifestyle Jordan Ablett gives thanks for life with Levi Jordan Ablett has endured more heartache than most. But the mum-of-three is doing all she can to look on the bright side. Read more

Netflix 'totally ready' for XMas NFL games, WWE48 progressive farmers flagged off for 7-days interstate training prog SRINAGAR: A group of 48 progressive farmers from Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts of Kashmir was on Saturday flagged off for an interstate seven days exposure cum training program to Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana from Agriculture Complex, Lal Mandi Srinagar. The training program has been organised by the Deputy Directorate of Agriculture (Trainings) under NMAET (ATMA) interstate 2024- 25. Joint Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah while interacting with the farmers on the occasion, said that the training program has been organised for making the farmers aware of the latest technologies for commercial farming, real-time trends in farming and cultivation of different agriculture crops on scientific lines. He said, skilled human resource and capacity building of farmers are among the department’s priorities. He impressed upon the progressive farmers to interact with the agriculture scientists, experts, and extension functionaries to get acquainted with up to date methodologies in crop cultivation on scientific lines. He asked the farmers to enhance their technical skills in the field of crop farming and to adopt the advanced technologies after learning from such training/exposure visits. He further said such exposure visits promote cultural exchange among the farmers of different regions. Many Farmers on the occasion said the tour would enhance their knowledge and skills. Some senior officers of the department were also present during the flag-off.

Romania’s presidential election: A pivotal vote amid political polarization, economic challenges