With Christmas only 10 days away, I’d like to comment on the magic of giving the unexpected gift, that is a gift that is given on just a random day with no warning.  This often small and inexpensive gesture can be more powerful to the receiver than those given on birthdays or holidays, even if these gifts are far more expensive than the unexpected gift.  We highly recommend you, our reader, try this out.  What makes this so easy to try is that you do not need any reason to give the gift, and the gift can be a card, a poem, a bar of chocolate, a can of soup, a ring, or a stuffed toy.  It does not have to be wrapped, and does not need a card or an explanation to accompany it.  Just a friendly smile from you.  You might be surprised by the results. Continue reading →

Have you ever found yourself needing to bring a gift, but not having any wrapping paper?  And you have to leave in 10 minutes?

If you have a paper bag in the house, you have a solution.

I even spruced mine up with some rubber bands.

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My daughter made me this pine-cone turkey.

If your family is anything like mine, then they do not say “thanks” or “Grace” during a Thanksgiving meal.  Instead, they stand around the kitchen/dining room/living room, and eat and drink and laugh pretty much all day.  I never hear the words “I am thankful for…”, but I most certainly see it in people’s faces.  They are happy, and grateful to be spending time with their family.

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Today is World Kindness Day.  I never knew there was such a thing, but I welcome it.  I emailed the picture above to a friend who had been stuck at the airport for hours with an unexpected layover.   I hope it brings her a smile.  It’s a small gesture and not necessary, but I hope it sparks in her, and sparks in you, reading this, the desire to do something small to make someone else smile.  Even if that is just smiling at them.