The Gift That Keeps on Giving

This is the time of year where so many of us are challenged to find a gift worth giving. For those closest to us, it has to have meaning. For those farthest from us, it has to be "one size fits all," and for those in between, we hope it's something they can find useful. For years I have combed Pinterest and Amazon looking for the right idea to either make or buy for those who I care about both personally and professionally. But my Dad is already an avid golfer, and refuses to let us buy something for him. My husband is an avid weekend chef, Dr. Who devotee, and living room UFC referee who has no time for more hobbies (and our home has no more space for collectibles, DVD's, or kitchen tools). And the people I work with will have desks full of small gifts from staff who want to show them how much they care. So that leaves me with the same questions. What do you give that's worth giving to the people who you care most about?

And then I thought about my son. Our oldest boy is a "busy body," always has to be doing something, hands and fingers into a project, or showing you something new he has come up with. ALWAYS. Like from 6 a.m. to midnight if we let him. The Nintendo Switch that was on his list is here and he will be delighted, and I have some other gifts ready for him, but with a house full of toys, I'm left to wonder what can I get him that he will really love.

Then a few days ago a co-worker with children of a similar age asked me if my son likes to play with Yo-Yo's. Yo-yo's? Well, we had a cheap one before and of course that went by the wayside pretty quickly. No, I had not given that any thought. "It's only $15!" he said, and showed me a video of himself doing a trick with it. I then go out to Amazon, order a yo-yo, thinking what a great idea and yet - I'm giving him the premier Nintendo platform and a yo-yo??

Then last night I came home from work and it was here. A little manila envelope, with a yo-yo and a simple printed paper teaching him how to "walk the dog." I opened it and my mind began picturing him, in all his 10 year old boy glory, walking around and showing me the many tricks I'm sure that he will have mastered by Christmas dinner...and then his delight in the spring when he is bored, remembers he has it, and gets it back out to learn new tricks and show me his old ones too.

This will be the gift that gives him so much- confidence in a new skill, brain power without a screen or technology, and something I'm SURE he'll have on the bus or at school trying to show friends in 2018. This is no different than what we can give to our peers and those we lead. Go out on a limb and buy them the gift of learning, of meaningful mentorship, of encouraging their growth through coaching and self-introspection. Surely they may have gotten other shiny bags with dark chocolate, candles, or wine, but those things will be gone or tucked in a drawer by the end of the first quarter (or by New Year's depending on how many or which family members come to visit). Give them what no one else can and yet what all of us most need- a shot at being our best, "walking the dog" when we didn't think we could, something we can proudly show others, and a chance to grow and reach goals that we thought we didn't need or were out of our of reach. This is a gift that will keep giving in 2018- just watch.