I had been wishing recently that I was a bit more gracious and generous spirited,especially to those at a disadvantage or who are somehow in inferior circumstances. I have begun to suspect that it is more due to my current lack of activity and my mind not being really engaged that is causing me to be unhappy and less than gracious. Again, I and I alone am responsible for my own downfall. I need to start doing more,procrastinating less, using my brain to learn skills in this off period so that Iam a happier and nicer person.

 I also found an interesting blog entry on being gracious at Alternative Mom. Excerpt from it :

Over the last few weekends, I have had many situations that challenge my personal graciousness.

4) My inlaws and family came for a visit and I had to severely compromise my time, routine and discipline with my baby. I was gracious to a certain point where I felt that I needed to sort out my thoughts. I had to get out of the situation (hid in the room and cried my heart out) and then stepped in with grace to handle the Angel. It wasn’t anyone’s fault in general but I learn that graciousness can only come when it is within a person’s limits to handle. When I’m only given the Angel at times of need, I felt my role as a mother severely compromised and challenged. I did not have enough graciousness to understand that it would be only a passing period but then again, I am having a hard time thereafter in picking up the pieces of a disarrayed child after everyone is gone.

A quick google brings up gracious as characterised by kindness, warm courtesy, tact and propriety; being pleasantly indulgent, especially towards an inferior, and only one definition includes generosity of spirit.

In my opinion, being gracious involves being flexible, listening, empathising and understanding. 

I remember once reading in a forum about a needy mother asking for baby products. The request for help turned into an accusation by donors and lengthy explanation from the mother. Again, where is the generosity of that spirit to give? Why so many judgements?

A speech by an ex-PM of Singapore : Mr Goh Chok Tong titled “Towards a Gracious Society”

The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holder’s lack of rational conviction.  - Bertrand Russell

How to Open Yourself to Your Life's Purpose   from Oprah.com | October 02, 2009

1. Listen to your inner voice. It takes practice to hear your true desires. Your passion will often come as a whisper or serendipitous event that reminds you of what's important and what makes you happy.

To begin, life coach Cheryl Richardson advises you to take better care of yourself. Cheryl suggests nurturing your body and mind with exercise, meditation and eating well. If you read a story in the newspaper that inspires you, take note of it! That story might lead you to your passion.

Cheryl recommends answering a series of questions:
What interest, passion or desire are you most afraid of admitting to yourself and others?
What do you love about yourself?
Who do you know that's doing something you'd like to do? Describe yourself doing it.
How could you make the world a better place for yourself and others?
What's stopping you from moving forward with exploring your passion?

Living with integrity is a good start.  Dauntless of spirit, soft of heart, convinced by experience that nothing based on fear—but everything based on love—is worth doing," she says. "Living this way doesn't guarantee an easy life; in fact, it will probably take you on a wondrously wild ride. But I promise, you won't regret it."

"If you gave me the choice of being CEO of General Electric or IBM or General Motors, you name it, or delivering papers, I would deliver papers. I would. I enjoyed doing that. I can think about what I want to think. I don't have to do anything I don't want to do." Warren Buffett