100 Books Project Launch
April 21, 2009Imagine you are going about your day, minding your own business, doing what you normally do here, there and far away. Imagine noticing something out of the corner of your eye, a package in a brown paper bag with the words "This is a gift for YOU" written on it. Would you know that the YOU in that message was YOU? Would you dare accept a gift from a total stranger left on the windshield of your car, in your bicycle basket or on a bus bench?
This is my experiment, an exploration of gratitude, of sharing a gift in every sense of the word.
This project began on Thursday, April 9, 2009 with four books left on the UCLA campus and will continue until 100 books have been given away, left here and there from Tokyo to Washington, DC. Each book is signed, numbered and explained on the second page of the book:
"Greetings!
Did you read the note on the outside of the bag?
This is a gift for you.
My name is Christine and this is my creation – you are holding a dream made real. I have received many gifts along the journey of bringing this book to life, and as an expression of my gratitude, I am sending 100 copies of my book out into the world – leaving them here and there, from Tokyo to Washington, DC.
If you feel inspired, I would love to know who you are, where you found the book and anything else you'd like to share about the experience of receiving this gift. You can email me here: christine@swirlygirl.com.
No matter what, I hope you enjoy it. Blessings…Christine Mason Miller"
I was inspired to do this for many reasons, most especially a book called The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World by Lewis Hyde. I picked up this book in Wellington, New Zealand, and by the time my plane landed back in Los Angeles, this idea was born. I will write about the ideas expressed in this book throughout the course of this project, but for now I will begin by sharing this quote:
"…we come alive when we give away what has been received."
In other words, I have received a tremendous gift in the form of my creative talents, and in the pursuit and expression of these talents I have shared these gifts with the world. Throughout all of these endeavors, I have, in turn, received many gifts along the way in the form of support, encouragement and acknowledgement, and this is one way for me to continue sharing, expanding and paying forward these gifts.
It has begun…
That is soooooo cool. What an amazing way to share your dream with the world! If I were to stumble upon your one of your brown paper packages and discovered your book inside, I would surely take it as a sign . . . that I was supposed to follow a dream of my own!
I love that you are doing this. I am so inspired.
what an incredible gift to the world you are swirly!!!
i can just imagine how transformative it would be to come across one of these books….so looking forward to tales of their travels!
what a wonderful, magical, idea…
100 brown paper bags of joy are waiting to unveil themselves… beautiful
this is so incredible … what a gift you are to the world!!
How wonderful. This touches my heart.
this is incredibly wonderful and I wish I had 100 books to leave in 100 places…
I had seen the same thing done last year on youtube by another author and it was fabulous to watch her being sneaky…leaving a book in between stacked jeans in a clothing store, or in a public bathroom or on a chair in an eatery…
she even asked a man selling newspapers to give one away with the next paper he sold…totally cool !!!
I can’t wait to see how it all turns out for you !
What an incredible idea. How inspiring. I think it is fabulous that you are doing this. Rock on!
I LOVE this idea…
Your book is totally a gift regardless of whether you buy it or you find it. It’s a treasure.
I wish you much luck with your project!!
this is amazing!!! of course! Linda
brilliant.
just brilliant.
your heart is expanding to gigantic proportions. soon, very soon, it will encompass the world.
xo
Fantastic….
I did not know you were doing this, but this past weekend, I gifted my signed copy of your lovely book to someone, secretly, that I thought needed your words!!
This is such an inspiring idea! I guess I hit your blog the other day at “exactly the right time” and loved reading about the student who found your book. I look forward to reading how each gift has touched the lives of those who are fortunate enought to stumble upon and receive your gift.
Blessings!!
it’s great to hear you too fell in love with Lewis Hyde’s “The gift”, which I’ve been exploring too on my blog – it’s an old book but still holds a lot of inspiration in our all-products art culture – being the great artist that you are, you will certainly bring its ideas alive again – wish you the best of luck with your 100 books, wish I was closer so that I could stumble into one
love, Marina
Simply amazing!
Wonderful idea!! Thank you for what you are adding to the world!
Fabulous
There will be 100 incredibly fortunate people, I know, because I was fortunate to “find” your book and I’m so much better off for it! Thank you, always.
This is wonderful! Will you share any emails you get from people here on your blog? What an exciting and wonderful project to embark on, enjoy it!
love love love this idea – what a gift!!
totally cool!
Beautiful Chris, just beautiful
I absolutely LOVE this idea, Christine:)
Wow! Love this idea. Will you never cease to amaze me?? xoxo
what a fabulous idea! the way you share your “gift” with the world is truly lovely! many hugs
You rock! What a brilliant idea!
This is such a beautiful and wonderfully inspiring project Swirly! I can’t wait to see what kind of response you get!! Keep us posted!
Much Love,
Nikki
<3
What a beautiful, tangible way to spread magic – “you are holding a dream made real.”
Yes, indeed.
This is a really great idea! I would love to hear about your book travels
This is such a beautiful idea, Christine!
I hope you don’t mind if I borrow it and do the same with my new CD. Can’t wait to see where it ends up!
Jason
What a wonderful, giving idea! Paying it forward to the world. Just wonderful! I’m sure this experience is going to enrich your and other lives in so many ways.