Tuesday tip for the holidays

🎶12 days till Christmas so shopping I must do🎶
.🎶But.🎶
.🎶What.🎶
.🎶To.🎶
.🎶Choose?!🎶

Gifts are something we give to others to demonstrate our love and gratitude for them. When selecting a gift, we show thoughtfulness by considering their priorities: what they need and what brings them joy. However, in this day and age, gifts have almost turned into just something we do. It is just another thing to check off the to-do list. Too often, children circle items through store catalogs as their gift ideas, while most likely these things they did not even know existed prior to the catalog arriving in the mail. Then, there is the common school talk. And, of course, if it is talked about all over school, it has now turned into each child's "must have" toy. As for adults, it is habit to ask for gift cards. While there is some considerate thought into purchasing a gift card to a place where you know that person enjoys, there is more meaning behind the time spent on selecting an actual physical gift and even more meaning behind simply giving the other person your time by doing special with them. 

Whether you are shopping for a child or an adult, I would consider asking them the 7 questions below rather than the typical "What do you want?" question.  I recommend asking your loved ones each year. This will help you throughout the year as you prepare for their birthdays, other special occasions, and even as a just because gift.

So, remember  this: "It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving." Mother Teresa
​