One thought on “The best Christmas Present: Presence”

Christmas is hurtling towards us yet again ….

 

A couple of Decembers ago, I queued behind a couple with a VERY full shopping trolley at Big W. Their bill was over $700,- and they needed 3 credit cards to pay for it.

Happy Christmas – would you like a little stress with that?

I wonder if the children (they weren’t even buying their own children presents, they were buying for nephews and nieces!) even noticed who those items were from? Or whether they were actually used more than a handful of times? Are those items now in landfill? The wrapping paper and boxes they came in almost definitely are.

What do you remember about Christmas? I remember holding hands, walking around the Christmas tree and singing Christmas songs. (Yes, a specifically Danish tradition.

That way, you get to see the tree from all angles.) Wearing my special clothes. Gifting people the presents I had crafted (one year, there was a whole black bin-liner full, largely because I stopped giving my creations away in June, at the suggestion of my best friend and co-crafter).

Scrumptious lunches with family. My dad going into the garden to fell a Christmas tree. Putting on my dad’s gumboots to stop the snow getting to my toes as I went outside to put birdseed out. Decorating the Christmas tree (with real candles). Trying to find the whole almond in the Risalamande (google the recipe, it’s full of cream and incredibly rich! Whoever got the whole almond got a present. In the old days, people would eat this first, so they wouldn’t eat so much meat.)

The only present I remember receiving was my first camera at the age of 15 or so.

The things that stay with us are special moments: time, laughter, companionship, love.

 

So maybe this Christmas, consider giving experiences as presents: a trip to the movies, a spa treatment, a massage, singing lessons….; or something the family can enjoy together, like board games; or something useful (although caution with the women in your life!

Women generally like to be given things that make them feel spoilt, not things that are practical) such as bath salts; or – for the person who has everything – maybe donate something to their favourite charity.

But most of all: Try to relax into the season.

Feel your heart overflow with gratitude that you have these wonderful people in your life.

Gift them your full attention, your presence.

There is no greater gift.