From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
Christmas presents you can't wrap
Part of the joy - or stress - depending on how you look at it - of Christmas is finding presents for everyone. The stress is often because each year it's more difficult to find suitable presents and they become more and more expensive.
So how can we reduce the stress of this present hunt? Without having to spend days searching stores for useful, 'good buys'. Find presents that you can't wrap!
Like ...buy someone a massage , and not just one, but a regular massage. One a week if possible or one a month - it's a fantastic stress reliever and what most people consider a luxury and a real treat when, in fact it's an essential part of a wellness lifestyle.
Or finish a project you have supposed to have completed months ago; or do the thing or things you have been promising to do for the last year. Buy an beautiful bottle or jar and fill it with lots of little bits of paper and on each piece of paper write something you love about that person.
Not just physical features but emotional and psychological traits they have that you love.
Or think about classes your family member, friends or partner may like to attend. What about dancing lessons, cooking classes (if you have pots of money - enroll them in classes being held in Italy!), how to massage classes, 'how to drive a racing car' class, embroidery classes, windsurfing classes, tennis lessons, singing lessons , acting classes, or art classes.
What about tickets to a concert? Or season movie tickets. Or gym membership for 3, 6 or 12 months. Or a few months with a personal trainer. Or a life coach - you know, someone who helps a person figure out what they want, where they are going and how they are going to get there!
Maybe some home made presents? Gifts made with love and thought and caring. Yummy kitchen treats or something you made in your garage workshop.
Or a cleaning or ironing person for a year; or offer to do it yourself and then make sure you do it! Or what about a cook for a month, or a year?
Could you change a behavior you know drives your partner nuts! Or do more of one you know they love.
How about a weekend away at a spa or resort? Or a mystery rendevous that you have secretly arranged.
Or airline tickets to an exotic location or somewhere this person has always wanted to visit.
inding presents for everyone. Part of
Or just give someone the gift of time - come home earlier every day or twice a week for the year; or make a date to meet each week or fortnight and stick to your commitment; promise not to work at weekends ; or decide your own version of what extra time your family or friends would love and write your promise in a card.
Try writing your parents, or lover, or friends a letter that tells them what you appreciate about them; how you feel about them; special moments you remember with them; what their love or friendship means to you. Perhaps you could write them a poem or song!
Adventure experiences are fantastic mind openers and different! Give someone the opportunity to parasail behind a boat ; or complete an abseiling course or experience a parachute jump!
Or you could offer to babysit someone's (or your own!) children so that the person (your friend, or your partner) or couple can go and do whatever they want to do for a whole day or weekend.
How about the gift of listening? Make a commitment to spend 20 minutes at the end of each day, or the beginning of your evening together absolutely listening to everything the other person says. Be present as they are speaking - in other words, focus on what they are saying without other thoughts entering your mind or allowing your mind to drift off on a tangent. Try to as Stephen Covey puts it 'listen with your eyes for feelings' - focus on what feelings are behind the words and respond to those feelings. Listening is a great aphrodisiac!
This is just the start of a process of being creative about Christmas present ideas - a small way to reduce Christmas stress - and you can save money on wrapping paper!
