Giving - why we should all do it a little more

What makes giving so great? Why do we generally feel good after we give (help a friend, do something for a stranger, give a big tip to an excellent waiter,...) and why does giving promote giving?

Every time we’re traveling, currently in Tuscany, we try to find the local little restaurants. Not only do they generally have amazing food, the family running it seems to be after your wellbeing, definitely so in Italy (as far as our experiences go). Last night, once again, we had a superfriendly waiter. We happily filled our bellies with their amazing food and as we like to end an Italian dinner, we asked for a limoncello. He says: I have something much better *wink*. He gives us some sort of sweet wine, really nice! After that, he also puts a bottle of limoncello on the table. Yes, the bottle. We happily have a few limoncellos and with a big smile and a little tipsy, we ask for the bill.

We generously tip him because he gave us genuine care and didn’t bother to see how much limoncello we would have.
Because we loved the limoncello so much (home-made), we ask if he sells it as well. He runs to the back, says he doesn’t have much anymore but combines 2 half-full bottles to 1 full one and hands it over to us.

So how much is it, I ask?
No no he says in a very humble way, I cannot charge you for homemade limoncello.
After some back-and-forth ‘no no’ ‘yes yes we want!’ giving-argument, we accept his offer.

When we leave I check the bill. I see he didn’t charge us a dime for that dessert wine nor for the several limoncellos we had after dinner.

He gave and gave and gave some more and what do we want to do: give back give back and give back some more. It’s such a powerful thing.

And I hear some of you saying: he does that for commercial reasons, you will go back there and promote this place to your friends.

Damn right I will promote the place 😄, and yes, it matters with which intention the giving is done. But you can tell quickly when it’s done with the wrong intentions.

The place : Taverna Del Fiorentino in Marcialla, Tuscany. Enjoy ❤️ Oh and I forgot: we got a prosecco and an appetizer free of charge as well

#giving #caring #tuscany #limoncello