"Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection." — Winston Churchill
Over the last few months, for us, myself and my two creative team members, my daughters Polina and Uliana, the tradition of holiday gift giving has been the center of our attention. Especially thoughtful gifts.
This crisp, but thankfully sunny, November morning, with my coffee in an adorable woodland mug and a tulip blanket on my lap (and yes, the cat is right here enjoying the blanket too), I would love to share with you the first group of people we think of, who deserve the most of our loving attention on a regular basis and certainly during the holiday season: our parents and grandparents.
The elder people around us, or those who live far away like my parents and my daughters' grandparents, have gained such wisdom from an eventful life, whose childhood and teenage years were full of unimaginable responsibilities and challenges. What would be the best gift for them?
Acknowledgement of the value of their life
How? By writing to them, in a way they can easily display in their home or room, take in their precious hands, and read again and again.
Here is what has worked miracles for our family, and I would love to share it with you.
Step 1: Buy a set of lovely greeting cards. Sets of 6 are great, but a set of 12 can last you the whole year!
Step 2: Set aside about an hour. In one sitting, write a story-like narration with just a few sentences on each card. Focus on your warmest memories, their words, or situations that have affected you. Remember that our most powerful life lessons and values were often learned in childhood. You can also think of anyone you know, or don't know personally, who might be lonely, aging, or going through loss or separation. Continue your narration on at least a dozen cards.
Step 3: Put them in envelopes, add stamps, and keep the stack ready to mail.
Step 4: Schedule to mail them each month. Set reminders on your calendar.
Why is this the most thoughtful gift?
You will gift them a year of positive memories that will improve their health. No doubt.
I did this for my parents in Belarus for more than a year, and when I visited them several years later, all the cards were on display throughout the house. They showed me their displays with a beam in their eyes and immense pride.
The value of a thoughtful gift goes way beyond the expense.
May you all, my dear readers, be abundantly blessed with good health and harmony in your families,
Alla
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