life a little better that year. This, coming from someone that had, in fact, made my life more efficient. This simple act of kindness has stuck with me for last the 15 years.
I also have a fond and lasting memory of the year I received a bottle of perfume as a gift from my husband. To this day, I do not recall the scent at all or even the bottle it came in. What I do remember, like it was yesterday, was the experience of being gifted with love and thoughtfulness. That year, he had been
working out of the country for a month. So when that special day came I just thought we’d try and talk on the phone. Instead, when he called me long distance he let me know he had hidden a card for me. Upon opening that card, I was directed to another card containing clues to the next card’s location. From under the kitchen sink, to the power breaker cabinet in the laundry room, even outside of our apartment to our storage space, I ran around crazed and giggling with the excitement of a six-year-old, decoding the clues to find my next little moment of magic. This wasn’t about what the end gift was, but the thought that went into making this experience for me and that here was someone truly knowing what I would enjoy - the games and the hunt - the journey.
Recently, a friend told me her guy just did something similar, but in an airport, a major international airport in New York at that. They live in different cities and were traveling through the same hub, but a day apart. Imagine discovering that a man adores you so much, that he hid clues around the airport, finding secret spots in a public place frequented by millions of passersby. Well as you can imagine, her usually tedious layover was spent in total euphoria as she uncovered clues, making it one of the best gifts she’s
likely ever
to receive.
These were
gifts not of
money, but
of time and
your mind,
creative
juices
creating the
best gifts of
all. As you
can imagine,
the giver of
these
gifts found
great joy in
the simple
act of
giving.
So while you may hurry around these next few days with last minute shopping for gifts not forgotten, remember who it is you’re buying for and the special little touches that might make them smile. It is your wish to be generous and thoughtful that will be remembered long after the price tag or the name brand you deliver. I just wonder if my friend’s last note read, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good flight.”