I am not entirely sure we will go in for the Black Friday sales and what not. For me there isn’t much spirit behind it, whereas, by contrast, Christmas resonates with me because I love gift giving. Anyone that comes to the Studio knows how much I love to add in little treats for people, sometimes at the beginning of the appointment, just so that you know I am not waiting to see how much money you spend before I offer you something. Giving generously is something I learned from my father when I grew up working in his pharmacy, he was renowned for helping people like that, little old ladies who needed a bandage for their foot sores, the child who got some jelly beans whilst they waited patiently for their mother to fill her script and so on.
Christmas for me is about thoughtful gifts. Sometimes it is just a paperback novel that someone has read that they know you will like. At other times it is a Mont Blanc pen you never expected to receive. Honestly, if there is one great pleasure I love in life its giving and receiving thoughtful gifts. And if there is something I categorically disdain it is probably the thoughtless gift where someone didn’t take the time to consider anything about the recipient - and I have had my fair share of both to be honest.
I was thinking about someone special I loved the other night and how many wonderful and magnificent gifts I gave her whilst we were together and then I remembered the number of gifts she gave me in return - a fire extinguisher, a watch roll (wasn’t a bad one), some headphones and a bracelet I will never wear. And then I think about what I gave her… I am forgetting something special she did for me, twice in fact, but it was related to travel. So, you know, perhaps I am being harsh, but for me, thinking about another human being and wanting them to have beautiful things, often custom made things, hard to find things, quality things - ooofff it gives me great pleasure. And when you unexpectedly get them in return, the joy it brings to me, that idea of feeling special enough that someone dug deep to get into your psyche and figured out what you want - its up there with sexual intimacy, great laughter and great adventures, and ….oxygen. For what is a gift but an expression of love, and how sad is it when people are miserly and thoughtless with their love. In fact, sometimes I don’t know how people can live with themselves when they are like that. Gifts, for me at least, feel like breathing life into another.
I am grateful of all the wonderful people I have in my life and I do my best never to resent someone who doesn’t have the ability to give thoughtful gifts, some people just don’t have it in them. But I do admire those that do have that wonderful quality and if that’s you, this is my nod to you, I love that you love it too and this Christmas, budget big or small, let’s make it a Christmas that counts.
Ho ho ho,
Father Nicklaus.