No obligations

One of the messages I received from my parents as I was growing up was that one person should never be obligated to another. I understood this to mean that, if I received a gift costing a certain amount, I needed to buy the giver a present at the same cost. My job was to constantly estimate the value of the gift I was being given and make sure that there was an even trade. If the person's gift was expensive, I had to factor that in to my budget. Needless to say it left me with self-talk on giving and receiving. I dreaded receiving expensive gifts because of the effort needed to ensure that it was repaid in value. I could also see how it diminished the joy of birthdays and holidays. The same is not true of the gifts that are sent by the Universe. They come with no strings attached. All we need to do is acknowledge our worthiness to have them in our lives and they will be sent to us out of unconditional love. There is no obligation on my part. I simply express my gratitude and appreciation for each of them as they arrive. What gifts have you received lately and how do you feel about them?