Perhaps, like me, you have mixed feelings about gift-giving. It’s a joy to stumble across something and know instantly that thing or experience will be meaningful to someone. Conversely, when gift giving comes with an air of expectation, it’s a chore you resent and a terrible waste of resources.
There’s nothing like the holidays to amplify the effects of this mixed bag of emotions.
Unlike years past, where my procrastination decided the fate of gift giving, I find myself stewing on this internal strife early in December. There’s plenty of time to ponder the question we’ve all asked at one time or another: “What do you give someone who needs or wants nothing (and not break the bank)?”
I suppose congratulations are in order. To need or want nothing likely means you’re in a good place. Or maybe it’s just hard to identify what we need to help us achieve what we ultimately want – health and happiness.
If gift giving wasn’t stressful before, it is now! How does one give health and happiness?
The answer is not a one-size-fits-all. But, generally speaking, and across cultures, people feel a sense of happiness when they have mental, emotional and physical well-being; purpose; positive social networks; they give and receive care; and feel in harmony with their values, beliefs and environment.
I wonder if gift giving is stressful because no matter how many stores we search, the gift of happiness and health is rarely displayed on a shelf. (Though marketing ploys will try to convince you otherwise.)
To be fair, that may not be entirely true. Someone who is experiencing food insecurity would find health and happiness from the gift of nutritious food, which is displayed on a shelf. But imagine how that gift of health and happiness might be magnified if it were prepared and shared in good company.
The potential to give a meaningful gift is further inspired as I watch my daughter, who on her own accord, decided she was going to make holiday cards for her nana, popo and grandma. As I watch her immerse herself in creativity, I see that the gift is not only for her grandparents. Engaged in a purposeful act with the intent of showing care, I can see from the smile on her face that she is also gifting herself with a moment of happiness.
Now there’s an idea. If we gift ourselves with happiness, might we then be able to give the best of ourselves to someone else?
Circling back, the ability to paint isn’t in everyone’s skill set, certainly not mine. But we all have a skill, a strength and the ability to be creative. How might your natural gifts be wrapped up to create one of the best presents possible?
Here you have it. I’ve packaged my pseudo-skill in writing in hopes that it will spark some creative ideas in your search for a meaningful gift. I’m also pseudo-skilled at making cookies – perhaps you’d prefer that next year? Happy holidays!
Nicole Clark is director of La Plata County Extension Office. Reach her at nclark@lpcgov.org.
