Give The Gift Of Time

As we rush around getting the last bits and pieces for Christmas, we barely have a moment to blink. Your head is all over the place as you keep asking yourself if you have you all the gifts you need to buy or if you are you still struggling to find something for your great aunt Mabel. Gifts, gifts and more gifts, what to buy people and how much to spend. No wonder it is a stressful time of year.

What to buy the people you love? This can be challenging, sometimes they help by providing ideas or a list, other times, we Google what to get or what the latest gadget is that Uncle Pete will like. At the same time you are likely trying to work out how much to spend, how much is too little or indeed too much. Maybe you are going to make something such as a cake or cookies or truffles or a photo frame or even a bird table! Homemade gifts are a great personal touch.

When we give gifts, it comes from the heart and we want it to mean something. We want our gifts to be enjoyed and cherished. I’ve spoken to numerous people this past week, exchanging how we are getting on with our Christmas shopping. Some people are finished, others are just starting and some are half complete. The one consistent point everyone made was they were at a loss at what to get at least one person.

I have been watching a lot of Christmas movies over the last few days, not the blockbusters we all know and love, but the cheesy, happy every after ones. These capture the true spirit of Christmas. I love these. At the heart of them all is family. They usually always end with a big family dinner or reunion after the rivals have fallen in love or the strangers falling in love (that were forced to stay in a hotel run by one of their friends or family members). But it is always about family and being together for Christmas.

Family is what makes Christmas so special. Being with your loved ones, and spending time with them, whether you see them regularly or not. It can be a challenge for some as not all relationships are straightforward and Christmas can be a struggle. If this is you, then you really need to do what is best for you at this time of year, perhaps your family is your friends and they are always there for you and you spend your time with them over the festive period.

For those of you who have someone who is difficult to buy for instead of trying to find a gift to suit, why not give them the gift of memories instead.

No, I do not mean brain surgery or a memory card, I mean spend time with them doing something they love and will remember for years to come. Why not buy them a voucher for an experience you can do together or pick a date next year and ask what their ideal day would be and make this happen.

Think how much joy you will bring to them when you do what they’ve always wanted to do and spend time with someone they love and care about. You don’t need to spend a lot of money it could be as simple as cooking a meal together or going through family photo albums, laughing about how bad your hair or clothes were when you were younger.

If your family is like mine, playing games on Christmas Day and the days after are a must. Whether it’s a quiz or a board game or doing a jigsaw puzzle. Just being in each others company when time doesn’t matter, losing yourself in the moment is bliss. This is a memory. Take photos, not posed ones, but candid ones, capturing their expressions as the time unfolds. A great idea would be to give the individual a photo book of your time together and the brilliant photos you took. The gift that keeps on giving.

No matter what you are doing over the festive season, be with those you love and care about. Life is fleeting and making memories with your loved ones is more important than trying to find them an amazing gift. The best present to give is you and your time. This year give the gift of time rather than spend a fortune on something that may end up shoved in a cupboard after the new year. Who knows, you may discover something amazing by spending time instead of money.

Have a great week and look after you!

Love Emma xx