"Tis a gift to be simple,'tis a gift to be free. 'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be. And when we find ourselves in the place just right, we will live in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we shall not be ashamed. To turn and to turn will be our delight, 'Til by turning, turning, we come round right." Quaker Hymn



As this wonderful hymn proclaims the greatest gifts are intangible qualities not found in the shopping malls. The holiday seasons of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa inspire us to live up to our fullest potential as human beings. Each one of us has been endowed with a unique set of qualities and talents. If we un-wrap these innate gifts before the holidays and infuse them in all our preparations, our celebrations will be enriched.

This may sound wonderful, but perhaps like many others, you haven't the foggiest idea of what your gifts might be? Here is a simple game to help you get started. All you need is a pencil and paper and a place to sit undisturbed for about 30 minutes. Your answers need to be spontaneous and heartfelt. So don't over think it. It's a game, play with it!

A) Make a list 1 to 5 of your best qualities. Be honest and acknowledge you best personal assets. It might be your sense of humor, your just do attitude, or your quite calm demeanor. If you are stumped, call a friend or two and ask what they think. You might be surprised to hear what people appreciate about you.

B) Next list 1 to 5 your favorite activities. What gives you the greatest satisfaction? What intrigues and fully engages you? It might be ballroom dancing, reading to children, walking on the beach; anything that gives you joy and energizes you.

C) Now randomly pick two numbers from 1 to 5. At the top of your page write down one item from list A and one from list B that correspond to those numbers, so you will have selected one quality and one activity. Now brainstorm all the ways these two could be combined. Be spontaneous and creative. Don't edit your thoughts with details of how, when, or where, just think of all the wonderful possibilities. For examples of the things I listed above I might have selected humor and reading to children. One idea might be reading jokes to children, could be with your grandchildren or at a homeless center. Write down 3 to 5 ideas.

D) Repeat step C, two more times with different numbers from column A & B.

E) Now you should have 9 to 15 ideas written down. Choose your 3 favorite ones that really light up your heart.

These are your presents marked OPEN BEFORE the holidays. Your mission if you choose to accept it is to manifest one or more of these gifts during the next month. Have it be a celebration of you as well as the season. Have fun and savor the experience.

Copyright (c) 2007 Karin Marcus