Home School Life

I’m famous for putting off holiday shopping. The knitting needles were pulled out and the list of handknit gifts was made months ago, but when it comes to actually shopping at the store I delay for as long as possible. Tomorrow I head home and back to full-time mothering so tonight was my last chance. So, tonight, I went to Target.

It wasn’t a terrible experience. It could have been much worse. I was alone (no unhappy children with me.) The store wasn’t packed with grumpy after-work shoppers. I even had friendly exchanges with shoppers and a couple of Target “associates.” But I left the store feeling completely unsatisfied.

Everything I considered buying I ended up just putting back on the shelf. It all just seemed like “stuff.” There was nothing that felt special enough to give to the people I love.

Maybe these feelings came up because of my mall experience earlier. While I was at the mall today, feeling warm and fuzzy from the music and the decorations, I just stood and looked around at the people for a minute. And standing there, noticing the individual uniqueness of every one of those holiday shoppers I thought about what a precious gift all of these people are! How lucky we all are to have each special, unique individual in our lives!

Now, reading back on it the whole notion sounds a bit sappy, but in that moment I felt true gratitude for all of the individuals in my life, and I wondered how I could ever think otherwise!

So, what kind of gift can I buy that recognizes each individual for who they are and the gift that they represent in my life? Something just as unique and individual as they are?

Hmmm, not to be found in Target. I guess I’m not done yet.

Then, when I got home I looked at a post full of individual holiday links at Are So Happy. Maybe this cool coffee cozy is just the individual kind of thing someone I know needs. And then there’s Etsy! I think I have a long night of surfing, sewing and knitting ahead of me!