When I was a child I was excited about all celebrations and festivities.
I loved stationery, and toys, and books, and comics, and paper, and origami.
When I was 9 I bought a nice object, something that reminded me of the countryside, with small cute chicks in love: it was my St Valentine gift to my mum and her husband.
When I gave it to her, she was puzzled.
She explained that St Valentine’s gifts are supposed to be just from one lover to the other.
I was surprised, but it didn’t stop me.
At 9, I was already in love with gifting: I loved to choose or make a gift with my hands, I loved to find a nice wrapping paper and ribbon, I loved to see the face of the person receiving and opening my gift.
When I gave gifts, I experienced both ends of the spectrum: from a very happy friend hugging me and telling me that this was the perfect gift they really wanted, to a “never happy” reaction of “what is this for?” followed by the ability of losing the object in 30 seconds flat.
Anyway, my excitement was often more in the preparation than in the giving…
This is a greeting card I designed, with a photo of my artwork "Love Yellow".
And what about exchanging gifts?
Knowing a person so well, that we know what they want and enjoy preparing and giving that thing to them.
And when we equally receive, wow, it’s a match made in heaven.
Giving what we value the most, being given what the other person values the most, receive the time, the care, the thoughts of that person, wrapping a part of ourselves in that little gift.
Finding funny and profound words to write on a nice little card.
Tell a story or a joke, or both.
Children’s gifts are the best.
I remember my nephew’s gift to my newborn son: a drawing of a future football match between the little cousins, with a diplomatic draw as result.
A little treasure, more valuable than a shiny toy or a new phone.
A gift with heart.
Una Marzorati
unamarz Creations