Cup of Inspiration

Here in the United States, last Thursday kicked off the holiday season. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving meals with those we hold dear. Then on Friday, many people partook in the Black Friday shopping frenzy. Saturday was Small Business Saturday, Sunday was Second-Hand Sunday, and today, November 27^th, is Cyber Monday. The shopping push will continue throughout the rest of the year as consumers rush to purchase those perfect gifts to show their friends and family how much they care.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with the exchange of gifts, it is also important to remember that gift giving does not have to come in a cardboard box wrapped with a bow. It doesn’t have to be shipped across the country in hopes of being delivered by Christmas Day. It doesn’t have to break the budget, adding to the giver’s debt load into the new year.

A gift of your time over a purchased item can mean much more to those we cherish. Have you been too busy to meet that friend for lunch for the past few months? Consider booking a couple of hours in your calendar to meet that friend with the same effort you would use to have an important meeting with a client. Is there a special dish you haven’t prepared for your significant other for quite some time? Make it a date for Saturday night to serve up that special dish with an extra dose of love and a listening ear. Make time for that long phone conversation with those too far away to meet in person.

Another consideration is giving of your talent. Do you have an eye for taking that perfect picture? Perhaps using your photography skills to produce a treasured picture for the wall or a personalized calendar that can be enjoyed throughout the year would bring a smile to people in your lives. Not only will they enjoy the picture, but they will also treasure the person whose eye created the masterpiece. Are you gifted with sewing? Creating a one-of-a-kind outfit with your own hands will mean much more than the latest fashion statement from a department store.

Material gifts will eventually deteriorate. Colors fade, dishes break, and cars will eventually rust out and stop running. What will not fade will be the memories of you pouring yourself into a handmade piece or meal, and the joy you brought during that friendly chat despite a busy day. The memories of a joyful moment will be treasured much longer than the immediate delight of an unwrapped present.