At this time of year, gift giving is a part of many families’ traditions. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the people in your life who have shown love and support making it special. This year as I made my list and checked it twice, I found myself with a smile on my face and warm feeling in my heart. The holidays, gift giving specifically, is not only the opportunity get that latest iPhone at a killer deal but to remember the reasons behind the “gifting”. While these “things” may make our lives a little more fun, exciting or easier there are other “things” we can give that can provide just that and more.
The old adage of “it’s the thought that counts” goes underrated at this time of year. The stressors the holidays can bring ie the cost of gifts and travel, managing family dynamics etc can be overwhelming. When making your list, see it as an opportunity to discover ways to support your loved ones and share the gifts and life lessons learned you have received with others. It is not always the tangible things that are the most important, necessary or remembered. In life, we receive many gifts we do not see and cannot touch but change us for the better. It is in our awareness and conscious actions that we can keep those gifts alive.
What have been the greatest gifts you received? Love, support, laughter, health, life experiences, ask yourself how can you reproduce that? How can you gift that? Talk about the ultimate Re-Gift! One way to do so is to reflect on your talents and attributes. Can you create time to read to children (underprivileged or your own), work a soup kitchen, support an elderly neighbour, smile, practice patience, be a good listener, adopt a pet, donate to a charity (items, time, financially), write a letter to someone thanking, inspiring, and/or supporting them. There are many gifts to be given, you will find a void to fill and see opportunities to pay it forward as well.
At a time where purchased “gifts” are the norm start a trend, the gift of your best self. At the end of the day, there will be an I-phone 8, 9 and probably 10 and while that might be the “perfect” gift for your loved one, if you dug a little deeper you may find something intangible they would appreciate even more, even if they haven’t realized it yet. Remember “it is the thought that counts”.
