I suppose you expect presents for Mother's or Father's Day, for birthdays or the upcoming holidays. But do you really need more stuff? Indeed, some stuff is nice and can temporarily make you feel good. We equate presents with the conveyance of love. But is receiving stuff really equal to the love and appreciation we ultimately crave?
Presence instead of presents, true presence and undivided attention, expressing appreciation for you as a person, is ultimately so much more meaningful than stuff. Presence speaks to your emotions, and feeling emotionally supported and appreciated, feeling truly heard, is the best present. A heartfelt visit with your elderly parent or aunt or grandmother, or neighbor, is probably ultimately more meaningful to them than some quickly dropped off tchotchke. True presence and attempting to connect, and emotionally support, your teenagers, is so valuable in helping them navigate a challenging time in their life. Your college kids home for the holidays, your grandchildren visiting and spending time with you, your grown kids dropping in for an unexpected visit, an surprise visit from a dear friend - those are the things that truly warm the heart. Presence, being in the present with the other in appreciation, is priceless.
Also take a look at a previous related blog post - less gifts more love.
