Something I, and many others I know, frequently have trouble with is finding a good gift. Whether it's for a birthday, holiday, or souvenirs from a trip, finding the right present can prove to be a challenge. You want something nice that the person will appreciate but—let's be honest—you probably aren't looking to spend a whole lot of money because you probably don't have a whole lot of money lying around. Some people are like magicians in stores and always seem to come up with the perfect gifts, which is awesome. However, when I think back on some of the things I'm most thankful for, I realize that they aren't technically "things." While there are certainly times when a tangible gift is pretty much necessary, there is so much you can give that cannot come from a store.
Your attention, for one. It is remarkable how few people actually listen nowadays. People greet each other with "Hey, how are you?" but don't really care if the person isn't doing well. They could be having the roughest day of their life but they're expected to say, "I'm good, how are you?" in response. Truly taking the time out of your day to give someone your attention and listen to what they have to say can mean a lot. You don't have to sit and listen for hours on end; as few as five minutes to give someone your attention and hear what they have to say can be enough to make them feel appreciated and important.
A simple thing, that shouldn't even really count, is a smile. That tiny action, the one or two seconds it takes to make eye contact and turn up the corners of your mouth, can make someone's day. Who cares if you don't know them? It's basic human instinct to return a smile and then you both get something out of it. More and more, I hear or know of people who feel as though they walk around invisible and unnoticed. Getting a smile, or any kind of positive acknowledgement, is proof that others do see them.
The two most precious things you can give or show to others are love and kindness. They go hand-in-hand and should never be turned away. I don't mean a romantic kind of love. No. I mean the kind of love you show your friends, family, and peers. The kind that shows you care and want to help them if they need help. The best part about love and kindness is that, even if you don't love the person, you can still be kind. There are some terrible people in the world, but that's no reason to be unkind. Maybe people won't return your kindness, and maybe they'll be plain rude to you. But don't see that as a reason to not extend friendship or love to someone else, or to the same person some other time.
I'm incredibly grateful for so many things, opportunities, and people in my life, but the love shown by friends and family members can never be thrown away, will never wear out, etc. You don't have to spend a lot of money when trying to do something nice for someone. Your time, kindness, and love are more than enough and, no matter how much you look, you will never find them in a store.
