Why Shay Sends Smiles

When I first opened my eBay store it was not called Shay Sends Smiles because I had not actually thought of that yet. I just wanted to get on eBay and make money like anybody else. There was nothing special about my purpose it was self-serving, that is until I made my first sale and got my first review and if you haven’t read that story then here’s a link to that. But it was that sale that made me remember selling is about the customer and what you earn is simply a result of serving them. If you do well, they will return to do business with you again. It was the selflessness and patience of the customer that made me remember that. Always and forever big Thanks to them. That could have been my first negative review as a reseller. But it wasn’t and my reputation lived to see another day.

But that my friends is not why I am here. I am here because I want to share why Shay Sends Smiles and not some other generic business name. This one is quite personal to me and not just because it is my name but because wellness and wellbeing are my intended reasons for being here even if initially it were only for me. It wasn’t until I realized that gift giving was way more than sentimental. It created a space of love and affection between the two participants and shows that they respect you and what your presence has to offer. Humans are social beings so it’s no wonder we show gratitude and give thanks to those that matter through sharing our feelings which is often through, gift giving.

The Value of Gift Giving

Gift giving predates any particular human culture as it predates any of them all the way back to the primitive days where a tooth from a tiger was considered the most honorable gift one could give potentially. And clearly, I am exaggerating (or not, I mean a sabre-toothed tiger tooth was probably a hot commodity) but it goes back to way then and it is there to bring closeness and to show love and kindness from the giver to the receiver of the gift. It is one of the universal languages that we can all understand, and the result is a feeling of happiness from to both the receiver and the giver of the gift. So, Shay Sends Smiles because I know that’s what I am sending off and one is also given to me because of course I smile whenever someone buys something from my eBay Shoppe. It is now not totally self-serving but a give and take energy that goes back and forth from one to another.

Long before I started reselling, I was simply a customer service agent. I would work the phones and the affection of gift giving is very contagious. I would hear the joy and love in their voices as concerned customers called about their gifts from one to the other. You could hear the joy in the voices of the receives as some called about anonymously sent gifts (we knew the sender but for security reasons could not tell them). This caused me to begin giving gifts and it truly felt wonderful. I couldn’t believe my feels. The joy from just thinking of another and being generous to them felt absolutely amazing! Addicting even. But of course, I couldn’t spend all my money giving gifts so I could feel better. That wouldn’t make fiscal sense, but I understood now that people liked making others and themselves feel better through gift giving. I understood its value and psychological effects. It was more of a matter of well-being and socialization than just consumerism and capitalism even though both these things had their places.

The Law of Reciprocity

The law of reciprocity is a social phenomenon when people feel obliged to give back to someone who gave them something. This is a simple ideology that you give as much as you take and the sense of obligation to someone can be more powerful than you think. Not all individuals share the same values so use your generosity carefully. The law of reciprocity suggests that when you give you will get and that will create a tradition or carrying on of things that will either bring you closer if it is out of joy or rip you apart if it is out animosity and duty alone. As I said, not everyone shares the same values so careful of a noncheerful giver.

The law of reciprocity has been used successfully in advancing human relationships for ages. “In fact, gift-giving usually implies an expectation that something would be given in return at some point, whether that be something material or that be a social relationship that is built through that gift or maintained through that gift.”  said Dr. Christine Kray anthropology professor.

Gift giving must always be looked at within its social and cultural context but rest assured that individuals who give gifts do so to show support, generosity, or a desire to build a relationship and rapport. It is not done out of pure selflessness a something, even if just socially is always desired in return. When reciprocity is not rendered an imbalance in the relationship will likely be perceived as one caring more about it than the other.

And whether that is true or not, it is such that people pour into whatever and whoever they want to. It is a simple as that so whether they return the favor or not, be a cheerful giver as the say old saying goes it is indeed better to give than it is to get. (Maybe that said that because of the duty of obligation people feel as receivers.) But that is neither here nor there. The benefits of giving outweigh the potential of not getting anything back.

I like to Be Happy

So, Shay Sends Smiles because I like to be happy. While this is only the beginning, I have found so much joy in just the preparation and getting ready. This little venture was meant to show me who I am because I have always known who I’ve wanted to be but I guess when you think about it dreams don’t always look like reality but you know them when you see them and I have arrived here. This is always what I wanted to do but I always started with a selfish reason. When I started this time, I wasn’t the reason. I just wanted too spread joy fully knowing that the law of reciprocity actually works. If I give, someone will receive but they cannot receive before I give. So I started preparing to be a cheerful giver.

This makes me happy and it is profit driven. If I must say so myself that makes this grounds for a great business. Plus it gives me grounds to build a community and to draw people in even closer. I mean, this is very social and personal at the same time as you must understand that all of this is of my making, my thoughts and my desires. I give you what I would give to myself and I like making myself happy and I am happy when I do the same for someone else. So, Shay Sends Smiles because what else?

This is about so much more than reselling products though it is definitely about that. Shay Sends Smiles is about the importance of sharing and showing you care about others and yourself. I mean, body care is self-care and self-care is mental health and happiness contributes to that like no other. So, enjoy the benefits of giving because that is where you begin when you want to show those you love, or want to love that you care. Sharing and giving boosts community and nurtures friendships because if you’re selfish you’re by yourself. It is not about the type of gift you give but the intent behind it. I would love if you liked or shared this post so that when I share more, it can be shared with the people you like and care for the most!

Thanks!

~Shay Sends Smiles

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