After spending many months clearing out Mom's house, I have developed a somewhat different approach to gift-giving for Christmas 2010. Instead of shopping, I will be giving things I already have (such as the DVD I bought for my brother-in-law a few years back and forgot to give him). Or, I will be making gifts that include family photos or memorabilia discovered during the clearing-out process.
In some cases, I will also be writing letters - not just my annual, generic family newsletter - but personal letters to some of the very special people in my life. I have been particularly inspired to do this letter-writing by a friend who wrote me a beautiful letter last Christmas - and by an inexpensive, on-line short course entitled "The Gift of Words." (See http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/ for more information.)
Although I originally decided to do this because of all the "stuff" I uncovered in Mom's house, and because I didn't want to spend a lot of money this Christmas, I have discovered that this approach is a lot of fun. What do I want to do for each person on my list using the resources I already have on hand? It is a challenge and a pleasure to come up with ideas I might never have thought of had I just headed for the mall.
Even more challenging, what do I want to say to some of the people I love and appreciate? Have I ever told them how much they mean to me? And why they are important in my life? Putting these thoughts into words will provide a much more personal gift than I could ever buy in a store.
Don't misunderstand - there is nothing wrong with shopping for the "right" gift for the "right" person. But, what I am realizing this year is that this new approach is giving something to me as well as to my family and friends. My awareness of what's most important to me is growing, and my gratitude for all the blessings in my life is increasing.
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