#359 Be good to others

It's not about the big expensive presents or the extravagant displays of affection. Good relationships in love, family and friendship all require a lot of maintenance - and I like to think that the small things count the most. Getting a cup of tea for someone, really listening, being attentive to how others are doing, volunteering to lend a hand when I am physically able, and saying thank you when people do things for me... all these things are a way to take responsibility for my social environment and my relationships.

This time of year can involve rather a lot of family obligations and it's easy to get carried away in the stress and drama, which often has a tinge of emotional baggage because of things that happened or didn't happen long ago. That's when it's especially important to take responsibility for ones own emotional stability to not start spreading gruff or acting out based on bad feelings.

Living with chronic illness is bound to place a strain on any family, and yes, it's important to talk about things, but there's a time and a place for everything. If I get upset during a family holiday, I try to take a break all by myself to put things in perspective and focus on how I can be useful and add something positive to the situation instead of acting out.

#346 Make your own Christmas prezzies

Another way to avoid the rampant consumerism and pain-inducing shopping stress during the holiday season is to make your own presents. Some home made cookies, a jar of jam or preserves, a beautiful card or photo calendar. Why spend time and money on buying and giving more stuff to people you love if their homes are already full of things? Have a "Santa's workshop" and prepare some homemade prezzies instead. Tasty home made delicacies are a guaranteed winner, and they don't need to take ages to make. Look for ideas online or check out your local library for books with recipes and ideas.

#344 Give experiences

The coolest present I ever received was from my awesome little sister Lynnea (of the infamous Squid Ink Kollective). The present consisted of a looooong ribbon, attached to a card which read:

"This is a gift card for 1 -one- experience." 

It then stated a time an a place when I was to meet up to go on a "mystery tour".

I had happy butterflies in my stomach for ten days before the mystery tour, and that day I was picked up at said location and brought out to dinner (sushi, yum yum). After dinner we got back in the car, several other of my friends were surprisingly picked up along the way, and everybody seemed to know something I didn't... finally we ended up outside a suspicious little house in the outskirts of Oslo, were wrapped in thick woolen blankets and entered a candle-lit mausoleum (the Vigeland mausoleum!) where there was - of all the strangest things - a didgeridoo concert!!!

This must be one of the most exotic experiences of my life, and it will be happy memory for as long as I have brain cells to recall it. Unlike other gifts and trinkets, a gift like this can't break, won't need to be dusted, stored or taken care of, and will keep providing both recipient and donor with joy long after it was given.