'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say:

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right.

—Second verse and refrain of 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple, written by Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett, Jr. in 1848.

For many cultures, the end of the year is a time to give gifts. But giving is only half of the equation. The other half is receiving. Have you ever spent time carefully selecting a gift and anticipating how the other person will respond when they get it, only to have them say something like, "I'll wait till the special day to open it." Because they are not open to receiving, you may feel disappointed or discounted. I have certainly had this experience. Because of it, I have tired to learn to be more graceful in accepting gifts, and often ask, "Would you like me to open this now?" It is amazing how many times the answer to that is "Yes." And by opening the gift in the moment, and responding genuinely to it, you enhance the pleasure of the giver.

Gifts do not have to be things, either. In this incredibly busy holiday season, you might actually want to give a card that tells another of a service, entertainment, charity, or personal growth opportunity you have purchased in their name. Enjoy wartching their reaction when they open the card instead of a package.  Some gift ideas include:

• Personal growth: Arrange dance, music, cooking, pottery lessons for a specified time period, like six months. 
• Service: Provide gift certificates for a massage or time at a day spa for a stressed out friend.
• Entertainment: Buy gifts to a concert, play, movie, sporting event, or some other activity to help others find leisure time enjoyment.
• Charity: Donate to an organization you know is of particular interest, such as The Nature Conservancy to buy wilderness in perpetuity or Heifer International to buy bees, llamas, cows and water buffalos for communities in need.

These ideas are just to prime the pump of your own creative juices. You can give gifts that make a lasting positive impact, and can be enjoyed by both the giver and receiver, with the added advantage of not cluttering up the immediate environment with things you may not actually want.  At the end of the holiday season, you can take  pleasure in knowing you have given something of lasting value.

So remember this season, it is indeed a gift to be able to both give—and receive—with grace, as well as to learn and grow throughout our lives. 

  If you want to explore areas of your life where you feel the need to move beyond old habits, please contact me to set up a 30-45 minute complementary coaching session by visiting www.TransitioningYourLife.com