The Best Free Gifts for The Holidays

 

 

The Holidays. A time of giving. And giving and giving, until sometimes it feels like you are nothing but a shopping/buying machine, and the joy of giving, well . . . it’s going-going-gone.

But what if there were a way of giving that costs you nothing but a nano-second of attention? No currency – paper, plastic or crypto – involved. Zip. Nada. Actually, two ways of giving. Both of which give joy to the receiver, and guess what? To you as well.

Namely, compliments and thank yous. Compliments simply consist of noticing something pleasing about a person or their behavior. Compliments range from “What a great smile you have!” to “You are so thoughtful,” to “You do that so well!” Compliments can be given to friends, family, and total strangers. Especially at this hectic time of year, compliments genuinely and freely given to cashiers, sales reps, baristas and the many individuals who help us with our Holiday errands are greatly appreciated. And of course, your friends and family may very well be in shock to receive such an unprompted “You rock!”

Compliments must of course be socially appropriate. Generally, complimenting someone on their physical attributes is not appropriate. Unless it’s your partner or BFF, in which case it may be OK. However, best to err on the side of caution, and compliment accordingly.

Thank yous can be given any time anywhere to anyone for anything! A favorite of mine is to make sure to thank someone who least expects it and so often feels invisible—say the cleaner in a public bathroom (like at the airport). The look of grateful surprise on their face is enough to make my day. Same with thanking the postal carrier, a customer rep, even your child. Nothing beats giving that tiniest bit of Holiday joy to all.

Besides, who knows? It may become a habit, and what better way to celebrate the Season?

Thank you all for reading “A Note From Dr. Noelle” and Happy Holidays!!

Putting Love Into Action on Valentine’s Day

 

Picture Credit: Kentucky Department of Education

In this time of a seemingly-never-ending pandemic, Valentine’s Day is bound to be different for many of us. Those who are couples may miss the traditional dinners-out, romantic get-aways, and other such expressions of their undying affection.

But what if there was an easy, heartfelt way for all of us – singles as well as couples – to honor Valentine’s Day. A way to express love in a safe, non-COVID threatening way, not just to our sweetheart, but to the many others in our world that we hold dear. It’s putting love into action by simply saying, “Thank you.”

Take Ana Reyes, for example, who some 40 years later (!), tracked down her first grade teacher, Mrs. Harkleroad (with the help of the Kentucky Department of Education), to thank Mrs. Harkleroad for giving her the skills that led to Ana’s professional success as a lawyer. Ana immigrated to Kentucky from Spain and Uruguay as a toddler, and struggled to learn the language of her new country. Upon noticing this, Mrs. Harkleroad came to school an hour early every day to tutor Ana in English. Ana was an avid learner, and learned fast. From those early school days, Ana went on to achieve her law degree from Harvard, as well as a Master’s in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University. Mrs. Harkleroad, now 77, was moved to tears by the letter of thanks Ana read to her – truly love in action.

Saying “thank you,” may seem simplistic, even meaningless. Just a phrase you whip off out of politeness. But “thank you,” when truly felt and expressed genuinely, is far more than that. It’s letting someone know that you recognize what they did for you as being meaningful, as impacting your life in a positive way, however large or small that may have been. Acknowledging that in some way, they loved you. They respected and honored you as a worthwhile human being, even if it was just in serving you a latte. Saying “thank you” loves them back.

So this Valentine’s Day, let “thank you” be how you express your love and appreciation to as many people as you can in your world. It doesn’t matter whether you thank someone verbally, or in a text, email, letter or Voicemail. Whether it’s just two words, or a passionate pages-long outpouring of gratitude, “thank you” is always valuable. Perhaps even more so in these pandemic days, when we all could do with a little more love.

Messages of Hope: Penguins, Blankets and Smiles

With all the shootings, wars, and violence in the world, not to mention the heat of the our current political environment, it’s easy to lose sight of the good.

Yet good there is, always. Good people striving to make the world a better place regardless of the turmoil of the moment.

Two stunning examples come to mind: 

            Weighted blankets – blankets that weigh 10% of the person’s body weight, made of what looks like small bean bags sewn together. For reasons science can’t yet figure out, these blankets are helping vets with PTSD and who are suffering from horrendous nightmares, children with autism and other sensory disorders, and elderly persons with insomnia all get a good night’s sleep.

            Middle-schoolers in Connecticut came to the rescue of a penguin with an injured leg. They first made a 3D printed “boot” (which looks like a wide band just above its left foot) with the help of ACT, a 3D systems partner (and the support of their local aquarium). Then they constructed an even lighter-weight boot on their recently acquired high-school’s 3D printer allowing the beleaguered penguin more mobility.

These innovations may be beyond some of our ability to create (certainly waaay beyond what I could come up with!), but there are a multitude of ways to make the world we live in a better place; ways that take little time, little or no money at all, just a moment’s thought.

For example, smile. Smile at a stranger, smile at your spouse, smile at your dog/cat, smile at your boss (!), smile at a co-worker, smile at the barista, smile at whoever crosses your path. For no good reason. Not because they did anything special, just because a smile is such an easy gift to give and receive.

Oh, once in a while there will be someone who’s too deeply mired in a private sorrow or difficulty to receive your smile, but that doesn’t matter. Somewhere within them it may resonate, and if it doesn’t, nothing lost on your end.

Say “thank you.” A lot. Often. Not just because someone did something especially nice for you, but just ‘cause. Like thanking the cashier for bagging your items. Or your teenager for taking out the trash (it doesn’t matter that you had to remind her 15 times, thank her anyway). Or your spouse for giving you the opportunity to chill for a few minutes before diving in to the evening’s chores. Or the flight attendant as you get off the plane. Or anyone else in your vicinity.

People love to be appreciated, and there’s far too little appreciation that comes our way in any given day. Be an appreciator! Your every message of hope and good matters.

Go for the gold, combine your thanks with a smile, and you will indeed have made the world a better place--if only by reminding yourself and others, how good this amazing thing called “life on planet Earth” really can be.