I think I’ve done my job well when my daughter teaches me what I should already know.
Today we headed off to the shopping centre to do some last minute shopping. Tomorrow I may hit another local shop or two, and do some more LAST LAST minute presents.
But part of today’s trip, was to get presents for Hubbie and me.
We left ourselves last this year. He wanted something in particular, but could only find it online, not in store… other hitting a few places, he said “oh well, I’ll get it after Christmas.”
“We can’t NOT get you a present!”
“I don’t care.”
“We still have to get you something.”
I was pondering just what we could get him in lieu of what he really wanted, as we still walked around for my gift. There was something I had wanted, for months and months now… but after some very decent research (this is an expensive item) I realised it didn’t do something quite important that I really thought it could do.
It’s purpose and ability therefore, had changed.
But… it was still shiny. New. An interesting gadget.
With a decent price tag. $$$$.
I struggled with this today. We went to the shop it was in. Spoke to the salesperson. Hubbie and I looked at each other, debating the pros and cons, and he even said, “if you want it, get it!”
But something was holding me back. It’s function wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. Even though there were so many sparkly things about it distracting me, the price tag was high, and that DIDN’T distract me. Especially with so many expenses for us lately. And with baby arriving soon.
I walked away. But I sooked about it. I said “now I won’t get anything for Christmas.” 😟
And baby girl, said the best thing:
“Christmas isn’t about presents Mum.”
She snapped some sense into me. Mind you, I was still upset, and mind you, she had a list for Santa with about 10 items on it thank you very much.
But she was right. Christmas isn’t about presents. It’s about presence.
Spending time with loved ones. Making memories. Laughing, and sharing, and bonding over good times.
I kept brewing over this fact, amidst appointments and crazy driving and rushing around all day. And then I had a shower, and those are truly therapeutic for me, because answers always somehow pop into my head during those moments.
I had made the right decision by walking away from this expensive, unnecessary present. Maybe it would be essential or necessary at one point in the future, but definitely not now. My intuition had been right. It always is.
I had been so fixated on this external, materialistic present, that I had lost sight of all that was important, and that was, the life growing inside of me.
Cliche it might be, but it really is the greatest present I ever could have wished for this Christmas. I got confused, because I have everything and didn’t really know what to do with myself. I don’t need anything else.
Hubbie and baby girl DID go out afterwards and get me something else… 🤣🤣 I’m guessing, not as stupidly expensive as the other thing.
It’s very easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, even for me, this glass half-full gratitude girl. Lucky I have a mini me to put me back on track. 🥰💖
AND, another mini me in the works.🙏💖🤰🤰
carcrashgratitude 