I asked my massage therapist today this question: “If you worked all day on the same body type, would it make you more or less tired?” Here’s his reply:

It’s not about the body type that determines how tired I am at the end of the day. When people get on my table, they bring a certain energy with them. Some people just drain you. Others give back, and more, what you are giving to them. I have one client that makes me tired. It has nothing to do with her body type. She’s just a black hole.

He has a point. Which begs this question: how does one work to be more of a giver than a taker?

10 suggestions:

• Listen more
• Ask questions
• Give less opinions, particularly unsought ones
• Show appreciation
• Pause more
• Refuse to complain about anything
• Offer solutions 
• Admit weakness
• Confess wrongdoing
• Compliment

These are things I work on. How do you work to be a giver not a taker-not a black hole? Leave a comment about your giving.