The Perfect Gift....by Lisa

It’s Holiday time again, and many of us are searching for the perfect gift. I’ll let you in on a little secret of mine—I’m only looking for the perfect gift for myself. My gift giving is mostly limited to my family members near and far, and is really just exchanging money. It’s nice and I don’t want to stop it, I like the gesture. But the truth is, this year I’m delighting in the gifts I’m giving myself. There are the material gifts, like the zoom lens for my DSLR camera, the books I want, clothes, and whatever else (no, not an iPad, tempting as it may be). But most important is the most hard-won gift, that of inner quiet. I’ve struggled a lot the last 3 years, with the divorce and associated bad feelings, negative self-talk, and the monumental sense of loss. I’ve really turned a corner with all of that, and finally feel that I am moving on.  It’s a great relief. So my hope for all of you is that you too can find some inner peace and quiet. It’s time to make peace with who we are, what we have and haven’t done, and to realize that we are works in progress, and that the greatest growth we experience comes from difficulty and failure, not from “success”(whatever that is, and however you define it). I’m taking time to give thanks for this life, for the simple joys, and for the difficulties, because they have taught me so much and have helped me to grow in ways I never would have without them. 

The Perfect Gift....by Jodi

Don't we all? I want a lot of things. Secret is, pretty much anything I want, I buy.

I really don't want all that much. It's amazing what you don't want when you don't read a lot or go out into the world daily.

Oh sure, there are things I want but I truly don't NEED very much, if at all? Yes, I need the everyday things. Housing, utilities, gas, food...some extras, like having my hair cut and colored, my face threaded (ugh), the once in awhile manicure and pedicure.

My Daniel takes excellent care of me! He is not a fool, his Mother raised him to pay for things such as carpet cleaning, cleaning the house, washing the animals, having a gardner. I wish she were around to thank for teaching him that. I have a lot of trouble doing those things, I am very grateful for the ability to have them done.

It's holiday time and we need to buy gifts for one another. I like to buy gifts throughout the year. I hate to be told it is time to buy gifts. I really don't get into shopping. I would rather be surprised throughout the year. I am weird about gifting. The people who matter to me know that. If you don't know it, I am weird about gifting. I am generous but only give gifts when the mood strikes me. I love to share gifts, getting someone a thing they have wanted or a surprise. Buying a meal or a cup of coffee is a small thing that brings me great joy as well. I just don't feel the need to buy gifts at certain times. I would just rather see something cool and buy it. I really don't operate that way anymore, I have to figure out how I operate!

Lisa wants the perfect gift for her. My gift to her would be getting her weight where she wants it. Rewarding relationships that cooperate with her, the majority of time and I think she needs a fabulous pashmina and I really good coffee table book. My gift to Travis would be his computer, signed, sealed and delivered. New shoes and a new bunch of clothes and a razor (for his face)! My gift for Daniel, a whole new wardrobe of everything and new shoes, he is gonna get that over the next year. We also need a vacation, to lounge by the pool, go out for dinner and just hang out. I would buy my Mom $20 worth of lotto tickets. For the rest who are near and dear to me, a party. Great food, fabulous dancing and conversation and just a really good time, sounds like it is on the list! World peace wouldn't be bad either!