Just Behind the Door

Having difficulty thinking about the perfect gift to give someone on your Christmas list? You might consider the following. It is entitled ‘Four Gifts That Don’t Cost a Cent’ but I assure you once given will be better than anything you could ever find in a store.

The Gift of Listening
But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listen to them over a cup of coffee or tea and then tell them how much you appreciate them for who they are and what they are trying to do in life. Even the strongest among us appreciates recognition from time to time.

The Gift of Affection
Be generous with hugs, kisses and pats on the back. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. Think of it as giving them a little of your boundless energy. It may be just the little ‘pick me up’ they need most at the moment.

The Gift of Laughter
Clip cartoons or funny articles or pass on an email that just caused you to laugh out loud. Laughter really is the best medicine and welcomed by all. Your gift will say, ‘I love your sense of humor and I love to laugh with you.’

The Gift of a Written Note
It can be a simple ‘I love you’ or ‘thanks for the help.’ If you really want to make an impact try writing a few paragraphs telling the person what they have done that has been an inspiration to you. Everyone wants to know that they have made a positive difference in someone’s life. Your personalized note can be just what a particular person needed to hear at the moment.

The reason the gifts listed above are so powerful is that they show gratitude to a fellow traveler. Recently there was a study about the importance of showing gratitude. Those in the study were asked to write a few paragraphs about someone who was an inspiration to them. All participants were able to do so but the next step – the really important one – was when they were then instructed to call that person and read to them what they had written! Can you just imagine getting a call from someone who says, in essence, ‘thanks, you made a significant difference in my life?’ As you might guess, the study went on to find that the ‘happiness index’ of both the givers and receivers of the messages shot up as high as 19 percent. An increase in someone’s happiness level, even for the moment, is a gift worth giving! And just think it didn’t need to be wrapped or placed under a tree because it was too big, too important ever to fit in a confined space. It was so big they only place it would fit was in someone’s heart.

Have a great few days!