The sad part of the Christmas season is the undue pressure we put on ourselves. When we go out Christmas shopping we try to get a Christmas present proportionality to our feelings for that person. It is much better to step back and look at what we can afford. Then look for that little thing which will make the biggest impact.
Well, it is not just at Christmas time. It holds for any other time of the year. We get in this mind set toward our love, our friendship, our caring must be measured by the size of gift we give. That is why, especially at this time of the year, we go into debt finding the perfect gift. That is why people rush around all crazy just to get all the gifts they need to give.
One of the big attractions I love about where I live is how polite the drivers are. That is not true when it comes closer to Christmas. The individuals driving their various vehicles get more and more aggressive as it gets closer to Christmas Day.
When I think back to some of the Christmas presents I have been given over the years. Some I wish I could forget about getting. Some were so expensive that I was embarrassed about getting them. The most memorable were little things, that didn’t require a trip to the mall and fighting the crowds.
At the age of eighteen I was trying to make it home for Christmas. I may of have had two dollars in my pocket. A total stranger bought me a hot meal. What makes it so memorable was I did not say anything to him. He look like a modern day Scrooge. Yet he bought me a nice meal.
Finding the right gift takes a little time and thought. The idea of getting a fruit cake as a Christmas present for some people is considered an insult. The trick is finding what will make a lasting positive impression. I have listed few gifts that are inexpensive and will be noticed.
- Christmas Card - A Christmas card is something simple. The right words in a Christmas card means a lot. This is especially true if you haven’t connected with some family member for a very long time. A Christmas card with the right words is a good way to say “Thank You”, or “I have enjoy being associated with you in the pass year”.
- Homemade Cookies - Food is always a great ice breaker. Cookies is a great inexpensive food that says a lot. It is like saying, “I want you to have these cookies, I have made with my own hands.” If you give store bought cookies is like telling the person, “I feel obligated to give you something, so here is something from the store. “
- Drop in Visit - Asking a friend or family member what they are doing on Christmas Day, then finding out when is a good time to drop by for a quick visit. When you drop by bring something like homemade cookies, or something you all can share.
- Phone Call - Our lives get so busy, we have hundreds of miles separating us. Families rarely see each other. Taking time on Christmas Day for a simple phone call is a good way to reconnect. If you and they have the ability a visit via web cam would be the next best thing traveling those hundreds of miles.
- Secret Santa - Around the workplace Secret Santa is a good way to give gifts. This year across the country strangers have been paying off Lay-a-Way items for needy families. I remember a time when there was no food in the kitchen, I head a knock at the front door. When I opened it, no one was there, but at my feet was a grocery sack of food. There was enough food to get me through the first of the year.
- Little Bag of Candy - Fellow members of a club, or co-workers can be difficult in getting a Christmas gift or any other time. A little bag of candy or other treats can make a very favorable impression without spending a lot of money.
I am sure you can think of someone who you want to express thank you, or I am thinking about you. It does not take a lot of money. All it takes is a little time and effort to let them know you are thinking about them this holiday season.
