You know I listen to everyone this time of the year and how hectic things seem to get as you are chasing around looking for the “perfect gift” which brings me to this post of the best gift that you can give anytime, any season, any reason, and any occasion.
If you think back through the years – do you remember all the materials things (toys, presents, and gifts) that you got – I know I don’t. What I remember is the time that my Mom did things with me, the time that Grandma showed me something and that Grandpa took me to the park and pushed me on the swings.
The reason that I’m even talking about this is I listen to stories all over the internet and even from friends that I know can’t afford to buy gifts this year and thought that I’d make a few suggestions for people online and offline and all that it cost you is a little bit or your “TIME” Yep that is the best gift that you can give anytime and as you get older a person realizes it even more.
I’m just going to give you a few suggestions here to get your mind flowing with ideas to be creative with.
For the kids……
A home made certificate for an hour of your time – they pick the activity (and as crazy as it is – just do it)
A certificate of the meal of their choice (yes their choice)
A day to make a family scrapbook together – sorting thru photos etc.
A scavenger hunt where the winner picks tonight dessert
A night to set and listen to their music and watch them do a dance to one of their favorite songs ( my granddaughter loves this one)
An afternoon to play their favorite game – yea even if it’s one of those crazy computer games
For siblings/friends with kids
A home made certificate to watch the kids so they can have a nite out.
Another certificate to make their favorite meal
A scavenger hunt with both families – winner picks the prize
How about making them a cd of their favorite songs
For your parents
Certificates for chores around the house – cleaning, cooking, mowing the year, raking the leaves, the list here is endless.
How about an hour of your TIME just for a visit – really set down and talk to them.
A favorite movie nite they pick the movie yea and Miracle on 34th Street or another black and white movie might not be your cup of tea but to them it’s part of who they are.
One that my 2nd mom always enjoyed us to do was to go to midnight mass with her and don’t make excuses not to – just go
Your online friends
How about sharing a video with them or even just a comment on their FB or even a smiley in their Skype can often make a person’s day.
Sometimes because you can’t see a person you really don’t know what kind of day they are having.
How about a video from you just for them – don’t be shy – get on there and sing Happy Birthday to them – get on there and tell them some funny jokes etc. – you got the idea.
If you do graphics, make they a banner, splash page, etc that would help them promote what they are doing
Offer to take some online classes with them – you both gain that way
Create a virtual vacation for them – DREAM – if you had all the money in the world where would you take your online friend and where would you like to meet them for real – you can make it real
Ok, I think you have the idea – and believe me it works as the best gift that I remember over the years that I got from my son was a cd collection of my favorite country classics that he remember hearing when he was growing up – it was pure torture for him but those cds are just priceless to me. He said it took him weeks to do and he didn’t understand why I enjoyed that music – also said he didn’t know if he should divorce his wife, shoot the dog, cry in his beer but it’s the fact that he took the “TIME”
Excellent Blog Post, Nancy! It is so true! When we give of our time, we give something that is precious!
We allow ourselves to be drawn into the giving of bigger and bigger gifts when the greatest gift is one we can give freely and with our heart!
Thank you for reminding us what is really important at this time of the year!
Thanks Patti and I agree – as you get older you appreciate “time” even more and it becomes more precious.
What a good blog post – and you have that right. What is more important than the nice quality time with the family. Eat a good dinner and just hang out. It sounds like a distant time ago, we did just that. If you think back to the days when we had neither television, radio or computer but especially MOBILE. Although the family at the time, had to work and strive day by day, they had at least time with each other.
Yea and there has been so much lost over the years that a person needs to recapture and this is one of them – we all have gotten so busy with our hectic lives that we just forget the basics sometimes. Thanks for your comment.
What a great post Nancy! Great idea. We often forget that giving time is the most precious we can give. It reminded me of one year that I gave my girlfriend lots of certificatates: one month doing the dishes. One month of cleaning the house. One time ironing. She loved it. She could redeem her vouchers any time. She might still have the one or the other (chuckle). I like your ideas for online friends.
Thanks Xarah and yes – I even remember doing that for my ex one year for our anniversary and out of all the anniversaries that is the gifts he remembered the most lol
Hello Nancy,
Such a nice post. It reminds me of something I heard from Brian Tracy on an mp3 about raising children: “How do kids spell love? T-I-M-E” 🙂
Shared on FB, TW and SU
Philippe
Thanks Philippe and wow that is great and so true – my son never understand why my granddaughter enjoys coming to visit with me and I would have to say it’s for the same reasons – I spend TIME with her – making memories.
I was told by another dear friend of mine – make all the memories that you can because it don’t matter how much money you have, how many material things you have collected over the years – in the end – it’s your memories that will bring you comfort.
You right Nancy 🙂
I never knew what was the best I had I gave to my children,my best friends until I heard “you hear and give the best time for us, even if you’re tired you smile for us..”
and when I didn’t give it … they said, we lost you.
Sometimes busyness makes us forget but in the rush they don’t know that we want to give the “best gift” of the results of our busy.
Thank you very much to make me more sure about the best GIFT 🙂
Best wishes…((((((HUGSSSS))))
Thanks Mia and you are so right it’s the simple things that mean the most ((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))
This post in itself is a “perfect gift”:)…and could not be more timely!! Thanks, Nancy, for sharing with your “Zaney” friends!
Ahhhhhhh thanks Judith and you are welcome – I just have talked to so many that are struggling this time of the year and things are tight all over the place and I can relate as I have been there and so thought I’d share of the things I have been thru and done during these hard times.
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Thanks for letting others know about this blog – you are such a dear friends ((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is really annoying. A good web site with interesting content, that is} what I need. Thanks for keeping this website, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
Thanks and glad that you found the site also. This is just one of many blogs that I do and would love for you to check out the other ones http://campingfishingsite.com/ and also http://nancyradlingerjustmyopinion.com/ you can connect with me on Skype @ nancyradlinger I don’t
a newsletter yet but is on my list of things todo after I clone myself into 3 or 4 other lolololol
I love this post and agree with what you said especially the part about
“A night to sit and listen to their music and watch them do a dance to one of their favorite songs ( my granddaughter loves this one)”
That brings back happy memories of time I spent doing just that with my Gran – Just don’t tell anyone I used to sing & dance as I am not good at either but my Gran never told me 🙂
Louise
Oh I love your comment Louise and your secret is safe hehehe but isn’t if funny how those memories are so precious to us
Wow, what great ideas Nancy! Thanks for this, really. Kids do spell Love T-I-M-E. Soo true.
Again thanks,
Roger Holmes
Thanks Roger and you are so right – it’s a shame we all had to get so busy just to make ends meet that we forgot how precious time really is to everyone in our lives.
PERFECT! Love these ideas for gift giving! So special! Real and lovely! Your time and heart are truly the best gifts ever! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks for taking the “time” to stop by and leave a comment – always nice to see you two – ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))