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Random Gifts


A random gift is a surprise present given without specific occasion, often to spread joy, part of a pay it forward moment. I believe that random gifts are the best thing ever! For me, what is most meaningful is the thought that a person puts into a random gift. I am always moved when someone gives me a gift, and it is a reflection of what I love. I'm reminded of how transparent I am, people pick up on what I really like, and they bless me with those things. I never feel compelled to go out and get them a gift in return, I just enjoy the moment. I do feel compelled to get something for someone else, so they can feel that feeling of just getting a random gift. Paying it forward is a big part of random gift giving.  

I got this sweet little ornament from a paddling friend. We are soul glitter sisters. When she saw it, she said she knew I had to have it. It was all rolled up in one decoration, the experience we had at the rodeo, the pink, the glitter and not to mention the mini disco ball. 

My random gift giving at Christmas is pretty standard; I very often give homemade candy or bread and jam. I will often give an amaryllis to the people that like plants and can actually grow them. An amaryllis is perfect in that it grows quickly, it remains a mystery as to how many blossoms it will have, and when it does bloom it is beautiful. I think if you sat and watched an amaryllis for half a day, you could actually see it grow. 

Random gift giving has no rules. It is simply a gift given because you want to. The gift is often symbolic of friendship, and it is a reminder of an experience, or just to say, "thanks for being my friend". One of my favorites is a "time or talent" gift. A homemade gift just warms my heart, how thoughtful for someone to give their time and ability to make a gift for someone else. 
My 86-year-old friend made this for me
I read a Facebook post about tipping the employees that pick up the shopping carts at Walmart. It was a bit of a rant about "lazy" people that don't put their carts away. I thought the person had a powerful message. He said that the employees that have to gather up the carts in all types of weather should be acknowledged with a tip. I couldn't agree with him more. We seem to have standards for people that we automatically tip. They are usually our server, hairdresser, massage therapist, someone that works inside. When in reality, it is the gas attendant, the people gathering up carts or those people that clean our streets that really need a tip or a random gift. One year I decided to give a Christmas gift to the people that make my life easier. I gave the guy that drives the garbage truck a Christmas gift, he nearly fell out of the truck. I accidently caught the mail lady as she was filling the mailboxes on a bitter cold day. I happen to have a random gift of bread and jam, and I gave it to her. Same respond, utter disbelief. Often forgotten are the personal that work for the RCMP, City Police, Fire Fighters, and Military. They work at all hours, in the cold, dark, and often miserable conditions. I hope they are remembered with random gifts.  

This post has brought me back to a special friend who was so generous. She was the queen of random gift giving. One day, I looked out and there she was hanging a begonia up on my patio. She thought I needed a begonia basket; she bought me one and hung it up. She was also very talented and made the most beautiful Christmas wreaths. When I changed my outside decorations to blue, she was the person I asked for a matching wreath. I can still see her taking down the red wreath and hanging the blue one in its place. It remains one of my treasured Christmas decorations. Every time I open the wreath container, that visual comes rushing back to me. RIP my dear J. 
This year I have really enjoyed giving and receiving random gifts. It started with my disco ball decoration, and it has grown from there. My Christmas wish for today is, for everyone reading this post, to give a random gift to someone that you feel needs to be recognized for what they do. What a difference that would make in their lives and yours as well. It is and always has been the little things in life that are the most meaningful. 




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