Experience Over Gift
I’m stretching a little bit from my original intent of my blog, which was to cover all the events, festivals and attractions that are the must-sees throughout the year.
I wanted to talk about in this posting, since we are only eight days away from Christmas, about how age can change your perspective on gifts on December 25th.
Growing up, I couldn’t wait for Christmas because my parents always seem to know what I wanted each year as did my relatives. I could always count on gifts from my aunts, uncles and grandparents and couldn’t wait to rip into the next package. It was all about the presents for me growing up, as with many children around the world.
I don’t know when it changed, but Christmas became to me about giving the gift more than getting it. Before I knew it, I was more excited about finding that great gift for someone than to seeing what I would be receiving from them that year. My list included names of who I wanted to get gifts for and some had listed ideas of what they might like. I knew I had found that gift for them when I made that connection or made that smile that said “this is what they will want.”
Age probably is the biggest reason for this change in attitude towards Christmas. As you get older, you start to realize that you don’t know what you want for Christmas anymore. You start to realize you would want more than anything to just have time with loved ones, spent doing the activities that you love to do.
For me, the experience is worth more than a gift. I would rather have the time spent with friends, the time to sit at Ghiradelli in Downtown Disney sipping hot chocolate during a chilly December night as we opened gifts. I would rather have the time spent around the table withfamily members as we relax with homemade food. I would rather have the time spent watching favorite Christmas movies with friends as we laugh at our favorite parts or find new ones.
I would also rather have the experience of seeing a friend’s face light up, whether they are an acquaintance or a long-time friend, as they open a gift I bought them that they didn’t expect to get. Maybe they have had to weather through job loss, family difficulties or just life taking their toll on them during the year, but for that one brief moment they can be happy for what they have in their hands. Their problems are gone for a second and their day had a bright moment for once.
So it’s the experience with those you love rather than getting that treasured DVD (for me) or newest electronic gadget. Sometimes people discover that understanding of giving at an early age, sometimes it doesn’t come until they are older. The point is to get to that point where the greatest joy is giving a special gift or extra time to someone than to just get something material from them.
Also, remember the reason for the season….
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