What Is A Gift? Time? An Object? Or How About Just The Kindness Of Giving
I awakened early today, at 2:30 am instead of 3:00 am, so I settled in for a comfortable meditation. Which I had, and it was lovely. Then I gathered the laundry together and got the first load started, and I found a couple of other things that need to be added to the recycling bin which is being collected today. Add in a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and suddenly I'm tight on time. I need to be on my way to the swimming pool in a little more than 30 minutes. That extra half hour I got earlier has disappeared into the maelstrom of little bits of things here and there.
Maelstroms are very real, as this photo attests to. Sometimes life can become a maelstrom, sucking you into thoughts and actions without your thinking about things at all. All you can do then is ride the wave and hope that it spits you back out again.
Today will be a very busy day, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm on regular schedule through Saturday, but then have three days off for the Christmas holiday break. Then I dive into my "Four Day End of the Year Blow-Out Sale" and then I can collapse for another three days of rest. I'll have a chance to chat with Aearwen today, but it will be our final chat of the year. I'll be working next week Wednesday through Saturday for the big sale.
We really count on our end of the year sale to pad out our sales numbers for the year. It's been a fairly decent Christmas so far, but we really need that final push of desperate shoppers - LOL.
We've had some really fun customers over the past week or so. People are getting into the holiday gift routine, and they're buying components to give as gifts or for making gifts to give. Either way, it's a total win'win for both of us. We get the cash inflow we desperately need, and they get to leave with wonderful things in their hands.
Remember that the gift is in the giving, whether the gift is appreciated or not. Since much of what I buy for DH isn't appreciated, I'm quite used to that backlash that can happen. Fortunately, gift cards are quite useful.
My final customer last night was a lovely young lady buying beads for a friend. She was very concerned about whether or not her friend would like the gift, and kept wondering about that with each item she was choosing. I got her checked out and ready to go, but as I handed her package to her, I told her "The greatest gift you are giving to her, or to anyone, is the fact that you thought enough about them to give them a gift you thought they would love. Remember, it's a season of love, and don't worry about the actual gift at all." Maybe we should all remember that during this hectic time of the year.
Thanks to those of you who have sent me a holiday card. They are brightening up my living room, and are so much fun to look at. I usually leave them up at least until 12th night, so I have lots of time to enjoy them.
So, I'm off to the swimming pool. Holiday card "THANK YOU"'s go out to AdoptedWriter, Sea Ivy and my cousin, Missy. I got your cards yesterday and they're wonderful. They have joined my array across my fireplace mantle and my house is looking quite festive. I'm honored that you thought of me and sent it to me, and I thank you VERY much for your kindness. At that, I'm out of here. Have an excellent day and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.