#30DaysofLearning Day 8 - Rethinking Gifts

Today was Christmas.  I typically celebrate this holiday by spending time with and sharing gifts with my friends.  But ugh, this year, I am sick.  I spent a lot of time in the previous week with students, teachers, and families, working closely together to bolster the strengths of a school community.  But in the process of this work, I took on someone's germ and became sick.  

Because I was sick, I spent the holiday alone at home.  And even though I was snotty and hacky, I still had a pretty good day.  I read a book that was recommended, but I'm not sure I'm going to like it.  I cooked something from scratch.  I learned some new signs in my ASL journey.  And, because of a gift from a friend, got a chance to learn something new.

I've found in recent years, that I am pretty good at working with plants.  My plants tend to grow well, some more than I had hoped.  This new bonsai tree, should I be able to keep it growing, will help me to learn a new way of keeping plants - keeping them as art.

The plant was gifted with a little book on bonsai, and I spent a portion of the day reading about this art form, and the ideas started pouring into my mind.  

Can I start one from seed?  What if I went to a local nursery, could I pick one out of the crowd and craft on my own?  What bonsai style do I like the most?  What about that style speaks to me?  How do I create a space in my apartment with better lighting so I can do work like this?  Oh jeez, do I actually have time to add this into my day?

The gift has me learning and questioning.  I have also been thinking about my gifts to others.  My gifts to my friends and family often bomb.  I've really never been good at gift giving.  I try to listen over time to things people bring up in conversation, but I never feel sure about what I am gifting, relying on the old adage, "It's the thought that counts."  

This year's gift-giving got me to thinking about the gifts we give each other on occasions like holidays, birthdays, and other special life events.  I find the things that mean most to me are memories and ongoing experiential learning and doing.  How can I give more experience and learning opportunity, rather than just things?  Isn't that more important?  The time together and time spent doing something worthwhile?  

Learning and rethinking the act of giving a gift helped me to identify what I find important in that act.  What's important for you when giving a gift?  The look of joy on another person's face?  Creating a gift yourself?  Something deeper, more meaningful?