Happy Sunday! 🌷
I recently received two of the most incredible gifts I’ve ever received, and also pulled out one I was given many years ago that was another one of my absolute favorites. Let’s start with the last one. For many years, I didn’t like bringing attention to my birthday, celebrated mostly by myself, and resented the growing number of years added onto my age. I’ve since done a 180, but that’s another story for another day. Anyway, on one of my birthdays, one of my good friends had secretly asked my parents, goddaughters, nieces, etc. to write me notes telling me what I meant to them. As you can imagine, tears were flowing and I will always treasure those letters.
I also received a gift from my teenage cousin Zoey. We’ve bonded over K-pop, I’m BTS ARMY, she’s a Stray Kids Stay. After dinner with her and the rest of the family, I presented gifts I had for them. To my surprise, Zoey had one for me. She had made me a “junk journal,” full of pictures and fun facts about the members of BTS. I smiled and laughed so hard my face hurt. I felt seen, and very loved.
Me and Zoey 💜
This past week I went on a school visit to Mrs. Nault’s first grade class, read to them, and worked on a kindness project. Before I left, they presented me with a book they had made for me. Each page was done by a different student suggesting what I should do now that I’m retired from radio. There were lots telling me to write children’s books, several saying I should be a library teacher, many saying to get my nails done, one telling me to go to Sephora and have the time of my life, and even a couple suggesting I become a gymnastics teacher to become more flexible! 🤣 🤸🏽♀️
I mention all of these today because it got me thinking about gifts and how much pressure we put on ourselves to buy “the perfect thing,” when that “thing” is often right in front of our face. AND can cost very little or be free. If you’re a crafty person, making something special for someone else is such an incredible gift. You are sharing a piece of yourself with them. And I get it, sometimes you want to give someone that expensive gift they would never get for themself. Go for it if you can. I just want to give you some ideas of things you can give that may stick with someone for years. And gifts don’t just have to be for birthdays and holidays, “just because” is a great reason as well.
✍️ A handwritten letter expressing the way you feel about someone will always be special.
📷 An inexpensive photo album that includes special pictures and memories for that person.
🎶 Make them a themed playlist of music that reminds you of them or a special time. Those of us that remember making actual mixtapes know how special this could be.
🖼️ Frame something memorable from a family member or friend. Think handwritten recipes, old cards, etc. Turn them into art.
⌚ Time with someone. We all have busy lives, but taking the time to have coffee, dinner, or whatever, just to catch up with someone is a gift that shows them you care.
You get the idea. And I want to encourage us to do this not only as the giver, but as the person on the receiving end as well. If you get something like this, take the time to really thank the person for sharing some of themself with you, and to really look at, and appreciate what it is they have done for you. I promise you, if you receive a gift like this, one day you will stumble across it when you least expect it, and it will be exactly what you need in that moment.
I hope you have a great week, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Positively yours,
Pebbles 💜
Positively Good
💝 On the one-year anniversary of his wife’s passing, a man spills his water and gets a sweet message he needed.
🎓 Graduate stops by his father’s job after receiving his diploma. We did it! These always have me boo-hooing!
🌠 Hospice staff makes wish come true for a patient looking to reunite with her brother.
🥲 Excited 11-year-old say, “I got a mom!” as Florida teacher adopts one of her former students.
Positively Precious
A reminder as you get ready to start the week. This precious little girl stops me in my tracks every time I come across her on Instagram. 😊
Positively Connected
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Feel free to send me an email. Would love to hear from you about a special gift that you’ve received, if you have any other comments, or just want to say hi.
