Fathers Day is nearing, and the pressure of thinking about what to buy for my Dad this year is already racing through my mind. He has worked so hard to provide for his family - this is my golden opportunity to thank him, to show him that I appreciate him. I really want to give him the perfect present. The main problem is though, that retailers make it so easy. So easy in fact, that most ?automatic? present, you know the type - the bottle of nice wine, the bestseller book - are vacant of thoughtfulness - the very essence of gift giving! I want to give my Dad a gift that will bring a genuine smile to his face. After all, being a father and provider to four children couldn't have been a walk in the park, why should recognising it be?
So the question remains - what unique and meaningful present could express such sentiment? Knowing that I can't buy him the world, what little thing can I get him to show I care? Further, what can I get my Dad that he hasn't already got?! This year, I am giving him something that no one has, a childhood memory, reproduced as an original oil on canvas painting.
The fine art of gift giving is a delicate balance of knowing the person you are buying for & knowing where to look for the perfect gift. It is a skill which can only be mastered over time and with the following steps:
1. Know the recipient well! Well of course! I hear you say. It's pretty obvious isn't it? Really though, to get a truly personal gift ? one that will make a mark and stay there, you really have to KNOW a person. What do they really like? What thoughts creep out aloud when they are fully relaxed? This will give you the best clues as to what their fondest memories are, what they want in their future, what they need now. Whatever it is ? knowing the recipient well is achieved by listening!
My childhood was filled with stories ? I loved my Dad's stories. He always talked about his youthful summers in County Clare, Ireland; the endless afternoons spent wandering with his two brothers and three sisters. He also talked a lot about the bustle of Dublin, where he lived for the rest of the year. He lived in an apartment in Parnell square, right in the middle of the action! He often talks about the disco that he, his brothers and his Father started in Dublin, just a hop away from their front door. It was the first of its kind. The kids used to queue up around the block to get in. He talks about the lighting that they had, and the records they used to play with such fondness. His descriptions are so vivid; I could even sketch the scene myself! He thrives on excitement my Dad. He loves shopping, and has every device known to man (which incidentally makes shopping for him even harder ? he already has everything!). All of these memories and stories form the golden key for the best present ever ? a custom designed original piece of art.
2. Where to look? With the advent of the internet, a world of possibilities opens up to consumers. We don't have to feel limited by the stock on the shelves at our local Target or Wal-Mart anymore. The key here is to know that if you can imagine it ? it can probably be done! Custom designed original artwork doesn't have to be as expensive as you might imagine either. Original art can now be purchased for an extremely affordable price ? certainly not anywhere near what our predecessors would have paid for such a personal luxury.
The moral of the story? Know your subject, and know where to look. I know that when my Dad opens up his pressie this year to find an original painting of Parnell square, and all those kids queuing up at the door of his disco ? he will be overwhelmed with joy. So, what can you get for the person who doesn't need or want for anything? A childhood memory that will last forever.
When you want to get something, ask yourself if you are getting it in order to give it to others or are you getting it to keep it for yourself. You might think you are getting it to give it to others, but if it is not part of the best gift that you have to give, then focus on getting that which enables you to give more of your best gift instead. Your best gift is the greatest value that you have to offer, because no one else is able to give it like you. It is your unique talent, knowledge or potential.
In life, there are many things that come our way which seem to promise us the ability to attain all that we desire. There are various paths that we can create wealth and different opportunities to make a difference in this world. What we all really want ultimately is to be fulfilled. That can only be a result of becoming all that we were meant to be, and doing all that we were meant to do. Everything that we acquire in life is to support us in fulfilling our purpose to the greatest extent.
There are many things that we are able to do that will benefit others and ourselves. As long as we are creating value in this world, we will gain value for ourselves as well. Society offers you so many ways to serve and to contribute. You could choose any of those ways and still do good to people. But that is still not good enough, because you were meant for more. You were created with a purpose that only you alone can best fulfill. Your purpose is the area where you can give your greatest gift.
Just doing what you are good at is not really good enough. You have to do what you are best at. By choosing to give something good that is not really what you are best at, you are depriving the world from the benefit of the best gift you could offer. Therefore, of all the ways that you could choose to serve, pick the one that enables you to live your true potential. Choose opportunities that will unleash your greatest talent. Choose to contribute in a way that allows you to be the best that you can be.
When you focus on that one path that supports you in doing your best work, all other opportunities are really distractions. True freedom does not come from being open to all opportunities, but it comes from closing yourself to everything else except what is best for you. When you lock into your purpose, you free yourself to maneuver within it and you free yourself from being distracted by other things. You are free from all other things to focus fully on that one thing.
Everything that we get enables us to give even more. We are blessed to be a blessing. We desire to be wealthy so that we can express abundance to others. We want to become more powerful so that we can better empower others. We want to be as happy as we can be so that we can give others as much happiness as we can give. It is all for the expression of who we are to the people we love. We want to express all the love we desire to express by being all the love that we are.
We can only give what we have, and we can only have more of what we choose to obtain. The things we acquire determines the things we have to give. Therefore if we want to give the best that we can offer, we should choose to acquire those things that enable us to give our best gift. Spend your time in learning the kind of knowledge that enables you to give your best knowledge. Invest in tools and systems that directly make an impact on improving your core business.
Success is a matter of focus. You have to focus on what you are taking in and what you are giving out. If you take something that only supports you in contributing at a lesser area, you will have less to contribute in your greatest area. If you focus all your acquiring and contributing in areas that are aligned with your true potential, you will create maximum success in fulfilling your highest purpose. That is why you don't need to get everything that others are getting, but only that which is best for you to get.
When seen from the perspective of acquiring in order to contribute, it changes the way we select what things to obtain for ourselves. Every resource that we spend should be in exchange for a better resource in its value to increase our ability to give more of our best gifts. When we get something of lesser purpose, we may enjoy for the short term, but on the long term we will end up feeling empty. Acquiring and contributing what is of eternal value requires us to sacrifice what's good or even great for what's best.
Both Jane Cocks & Enoch Tan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jane Cocks has sinced written about articles on various topics from Perfumes, Flirting Tips and Family. Come and visit Master Arts to commission your own , or email me at contact@masterarts.com.au. We can provide. Jane Cocks's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Enoch Tan has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Religion and self improvement and motivation. Enoch Tan aims to help people achieve greater awareness in living and experiencing life. To evolve human consciousness to higher levels. To change lives and create possibility. To revolutionize the way we understand the mind and reality. Because that is w. Enoch Tan's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.