There are many people who thoroughly enjoy getting huge gifts for their birthdays and anniversaries and holidays.  I am not one of those people.  I really prefer small things randomly throughout the year.  Does that mean I would turn down a brand new diamond bracelet or a brand new car?  No, it does not.  If someone asked me if I would rather have that or a small box of Jacques Torres chocolates, I truly believe I would take the latter.

Gifts can be a dangerous thing in some relationships.  People don’t like show-off’s, so you have to be careful that you’re not getting something that people will feel guilty receiving.  Gifts should always be sincere and thoughtful.  (Remember, this is just my opinion.)  I enjoy taking time to pick out gifts for my friends and family.  I enjoy opening a card in the mail that has a funny picture on the front that perfectly describes my relationship with the sender.  It makes my whole day when my husband picks up my favorite drink at Starbucks and leaves it on my desk with a post-it note.  One of my mom’s friends made me a special batch of her Christmas cookies that she knows I love and she dropped them off at my front door one day… it was the most thoughtful thing in the whole world and I smiled the rest of the day while I ate the ENTIRE bag.

Last night was another great example.  I went with Holly and her girls to the Mall of America to visit Sealife MN because teachers got in free and their guests were only $5.00.  After the aquarium, we went to dinner at Noodles & Co and then walked through Nickelodeon Universe (Kenzy went on the log ride with her mom – so brave.)  We stopped back at the Aquarium so Holly could get a free membership for the year and the girls were pretty tired.  They were being such good sports about waiting in line.  We ended up following Kennedy into the gift shop because she wanted to explore.  She kept picking up a bright orange stuffed turtle that had big, blue eyes.  Kenzy was playing with the same toy, but a blue sparkly version.  No one was asking for anything or throwing a tantrum – remember, we’re talking about a 3 year old and a 15 month old and we were nearing their bedtime rapidly and we had been walking around the mall for a few hours.  I grabbed both toys and threw them up on the counter to purchase them.  $22.00 later – both kids were so excited about these new friends they were bringing home and they were running to show their mom.  They both snuggled with the turtles the whole time we were in the car on the way home.  That tiny little gesture meant a ton to both of them (even if they forget about it the next day) and it made me happy at the same time.

I urge everyone to take 5 minutes in the next few days and purchase something little online or at the store to gift to someone.  If you’re standing in Walgreens and a magazine cover reminds you of a funny story with a good friend, buy it and give it to them.  $3.99 and it will be something that they can appreciate.  People like to know that you’re thinking of them and in the age of Facebook and Twitter – reaching out with something tangible can mean the world to someone.  I know they say that love is the best gift of all and I know deep down that that is true, but I do feel like sometimes you need to show someone in a different fashion and I don’t believe that super expensive gifts or gifts of money are the ticket.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill