It's the most wonderful/stressful time of the year. The gift giving season has just begun, and the nation feels like a massive holiday island embellished in colossal tress, glowering lights, cheerful Christmas music/specials, decorated wreaths, and mistletoes hanging above doorsteps and walls. Mall Santas have begun making appearances at shopping plazas with lines of children waiting to sit on their jolly lap and take a picture with them while they pop the familiar question, "What would you like for Christmas [insert name]". But what if, instead of the Santas asking what the children wanted for Christmas, they asked them, "What would you like to give for Christmas [insert name]".

Now, this may seem like a far-fetched concept, but just think about it. We as humans receive joy from getting gifts from loved ones and friends, especially during the holidays. But what about the joy of being the gift giver? Do we equally feel satisfied as the gift obtainer, less fulfilled, or possibly receive more joy than the person getting the gift? Scientists and psychologists have researched this concept for some time. The studies of the mind of the giver vs. receiver has not only been mind-blowing, but also helps better understand what makes us human.

Recently, while I was scrolling through the various Buzzfeed videos on my Youtube app, I came across this fascinating clip about the science behind giving vs. receiving. To summarize, our self-centered nature is how we are able to survive and thrive, but somehow, we still receive great pleasure from giving gifts to family and friends. We have four dominant chemicals in our brain that are released when we feel happy:

.Dopamine

.Oxytocin

.Serotonin

.Endorphins

However, during the holidays, we release a lot of oxytocin. Oxytocin is the chemical in our brain that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy when we have positive interactions with people, including the act of giving gifts. Fun Fact: Oxytocin is the hormone released during breast feeding that creates the bond between the mother and her baby/babies. In a recent study conducted in Claremont Graduate University, students played a series of games to win money. They were then given the opportunity to either keep the money, or donate it. The students who donated the money, despite not knowing the name of the charity the donations were going towards, released a great amount of the oxytocin chemical. According to the article, Oxytocin: The Holiday Hormone, "Our bodies produce this chemical that induces us to give, even if we do not see or experience the positive effects of our gifts-a form of altruism, according to the authors, that may be 'uniquely human" (greatergood.berkeley.edu).

(The light blue, bright red, and bright yellow are the oxytocin chemicals being released in the brain.)

But what about the mind of the gift receiver? According to the Buzzfeed video, a 2007 study demonstrated that people who donated money to others released a great amount of oxytocin, unlike the people who kept the money for themselves.

So if that's the case, then we can conclude that giving gifts gives us more pleasure and joy than receiving them (although the process of trying to find the perfect gift is far from relaxing).

But is it all a hoax? Do we give gifts out of the kindness of our hearts, or is there more to it? Some people give gifts because it's a part of their religious custom. Others do it because they expect the universe to repay them for their good deed of giving a gift. Mostly, people give gifts to feel positive about themselves and bring joy to the person receiving the gift. Giving is a way that we have been able to connect emotionally with our fellow humans since the dawn of man/woman. So yes, we do give gifts out of the kindness of our hearts (for the most part).

So the next time you see those holiday commercials with the elated parents watching their children hold their new puppy, or the little boy delivering Coca Cola to his neighbors and Santa Claus on his wooden sleigh, think oxytocin. The happy holiday hormone. The secret Santa secretion. The crowd-pleaser chemical. I could go on for another paragraph.

While it's always nice to receive the gifts that we want (like the newest Apple invention or Amazon product, or Mom if you are reading this, Nordstrom clothing, cough cough cough), the best holiday gift is the gift of giving, and making others smile.

If you are someone who is interested in/loves donating gifts or money to non-profit organizations, check out these websites and consider giving a little (or a lot) to these amazing charities.

HeavenSent Bulldog Rescue

http://www.heavensentbulldogrescue.com/

Covenant House

https://www.covenanthouse.org/

CHOP (Children Hospital of Philadelphia) Cancer Center

http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/cancer-center

Angel Tree

https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/

Soldiers' Angel

http://soldiersangels.org/

JBJ (John Bon Jovi) Soul Kitchen

https://www.jbjsoulkitchen.org/

Happy Holidays!!!!!