My 3 Favorite Gifts-A Journey Through Time And Gratitude
Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, from the tangible treasures we unwrap to the intangible lessons that shape our lives. With our Where Bloggers Live prompt of the Favorite Gifts we’ve received or given, I decided to reflect on 3 types of gifts over the years.
Quote of the day: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain
I’ve noticed that some of the most impactful and favorite gifts weren’t just about what I held in my hands—they were about what I carried in my heart. Today, I’m sharing my three favorite gifts, each representing a unique moment in my life: a physical gift, a memorable event, and an emotional realization that continues to shape my journey.
The last emotional journey was inspired by the book, The Last Lecture. If you haven’t read it, I would consider it essential for a full and wonderful life.
Insider tip: I save many of the books that I consider amazing on my Amazon shop under Books.
My Favorite Physical Gift as a 10-Year-Old
Let’s start with my first thought when I read our Where Bloggers Live prompt…a physical gift that I received.
While not every 10-year-old would ask for a roll-top-down desk, I guess I’ve always been different.
The entire story was relived in a Favorite Furniture article I shared in 2022. When I look back, I think the draw of these desks is the fact they are made of little cubbies for organization.
I’ve always been an organizational freak and a roll-top desk is iconic for that trait. As well as you can then pull the sliding shutter down to hide any mess on the desk. That’s an organizational tool that is priceless.
The Event For Favorite Gifts: Age 40
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that “things” aren’t as important as experiences. It’s one of the reasons my family has an experience every Christmas instead of buying each other physical gifts.
When my milestone birthday of 40 arrived, I decided to celebrate with a chocolate fountain for 2 reasons.
1-I was a chocoholic as described in my article about conquering my sugar addiction.
2-It was a fun way to include my friends and family.
Not everyone is happy to get older, but I believe that celebrating our birthday should be just that…a celebration. Not only is it a privilege that some people don’t reach, but it’s also fun.
Let me tell you, a chocolate fountain party is as magical as it sounds. My husband found a company to do all of the setup and provide the fixings and it was so good that a year later, we had the same type of party to celebrate my mom turning 70 with her friends.
Imagine a cascading fountain of velvety, Belgian chocolate, surrounded by platters of fruit, marshmallows, and other delightful things to dip in. It was a feast not just for the stomach but for the soul.
More than the chocolate itself (though let’s be honest, the chocolate was divine), it was the laughter and friends that made the event unforgettable. There’s something special about being surrounded by people who love you, indulging in something as whimsical as a chocolate fountain. It reminded me that celebrations don’t have to be grand to be meaningful. It’s about the people, the laughter, and those little moments that make life sweet—literally and figuratively.
The Ultimate Favorite Gift: Life is Short, Have Fun, and Give Grace
If my roll-top desk was an item and the chocolate fountain was an event, this last gift is emotional. It didn’t come wrapped in a box or planned ahead of time. It came quietly, through the ups and downs of life, and it’s something I hold dear: the realization that life is short, have fun, and give grace.
We all know life isn’t always easy. It’s full of surprises—some wonderful, others challenging. But somewhere along the way, with the help of an empathetic soul (named Rob who I call my husband), I learned to embrace the love of life.
Much of Rob and my journey together has been learned on the backs of others. We retired early, much earlier than planned because we had a couple of friends die young.
If that isn’t the wake-up call to enjoy life while you can, I don’t know what is.
What Rob and I have learned with limited financial resources is that “having fun” doesn’t have to mean extravagant vacations or bucket-list adventures. It can be as simple as getting up without an alarm, rescuing older pets to give them the best years of their life, or dancing in the kitchen. It’s about finding joy in the everyday and permitting yourself to live fully, even when life feels messy.
Grace
The second part of this gift, “grace,” has been just as transformative. Years back I joined in on the trend of giving each year a theme with a word. The word I chose was “Grace.”
As a Type A, high-achieving person, there can be an overload of “shoulds” in our lives. And I decided that I needed to give myself grace on many days.
Insider detail: Giving grace to others is also part of the equation. That’s the part I’m still working on many days.
This gift continues to grow with me. Every time I choose joy over Stress or extend kindness over judgment, I feel its presence. It’s not something you master in one day; it’s a lifelong practice but it’s one of the most rewarding.
Reality check: We are all human which is why you find mistakes sprinkled throughout my emails and articles.
The Threads That Tie These Favorite Gifts Together
These three gifts—physical, eventful, and emotional—are wildly different, but they share a common thread: each one represents love, care, and the value of connection. My roll-top desk was a gift from my mom and stepdad to give me the one thing I really wanted.
The chocolate fountain party was a celebration planned by my husband who wanted to make my day special with my most favorite food and most favorite friends.
And the emotional lesson of life’s brevity is a gift from the universe, encouraging me to connect more deeply with myself and others.
When I think about my favorite gifts now, I try to approach giving with the same spirit. It’s not about the price tag or the size; it’s about the thought and intention behind it.
Reflecting on Your Favorite Gifts
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What are some of the best gifts you’ve ever received? Were they physical objects, unforgettable experiences, or lessons that changed your perspective?
As we head into the holiday season or even just the start of a new day, let’s take a moment to appreciate the gifts in our lives—past, present, and future. They don’t have to come in a neatly wrapped box with a bow. Sometimes, they’re waiting for us in unexpected places, ready to fill our hearts with gratitude.
Here’s to celebrating our favorite gifts that make life meaningful and giving a little bit of that magic to others.
Where Bloggers Live
What is Where Bloggers Live? It’s kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…Bloggers! Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and hear all about the personal backstories and interesting details? And our favorite gifts will be interesting to read from everyone’s different perspectives.
FYI, we don’t all post at the same time since we all have different schedules and live in different parts of the country.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
 Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Sally at Within a World of My Own
The Series
We’ve been doing this fun series for 5 years now.
These are only from the last year or so. Feel free to visit any that might strike your fancy.
Art Collection
Favorite Kitchen Appliances
If You Could Time Travel
What’s in my Suitcase (When it’s Empty)
My Hair Journey
Gratitude: Inspired by Women
Favorite Holiday Decor
Staying Warm in Winter
Messy & Odd Side-by-Side Refrigerator Organization
My Money Mismanagement
Seasons of your Life
Better health when bored at night
Vacation-Palm Springs
Things I Can’t Live Without
Eco-Friendly Practices
Favorite post –Happy 5 Years
Bedtime Routine
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