The best gifts are free. They are giving of your self to others; listening, caring; showing joy at the sight of others; letting them know that them being there is the greatest gift they can give to you, as they are a treasure and delight to your heart!  Kindness: once years ago I was going through an extremely difficult time in my life; emotionally, etc; and my heart hurt. I was able to keep a smile on my face, work, and as long as no one asked me about it, I was fine. But the moment anyone asked, tears would start to flow.

One day as I was going back to work from walking around on my lunch hour, a man opened the door for me and made a kind comment;  later in the evening I called my grandfather and told him; and said "it's like the world has a famine of kindness"; it's the first time since I can recall in years where someone has just shown kindness to me!" He was familiar with my pain and the difficult time I was going through.

Kindness: is free. And it should just bubble up and out of your being, and flow over all you see, meet, even to others as you walk down the street!  Let us flood the earth with kindness, and peace and goodwill  and joy to others, like the waters covered the earth in Noah's day!  A simple opening of the door and a pleasant comment: brought me to tears during a time when I was in such distress inside that no one would have ever known from the outside.

This AM I got up around 5AM; I peeked outside and saw a raccoon, who was drinking from the tub of water I put out for all God's creatures who might come by needing a drink of water. I was so happy to see them; doesn't have to be fancy; the "tubs" given away by hospitals work wonderfully well as feeders for birds; wash rocks well, then place inside to keep from "tipping" over. If large enough rocks so that birds can land on it and drink; they are delighted to have it to drink and bathe with!

Popcorn from air poppers; no butter or salt; feed birds, as well as any "bread" that does not have mold. They love getting it!  Hummingbirds do not all migrate south; the majority of them do,but some do stay year round! The $1 store sells feeders; simple 4 to 1 solution of sugar and water, boil for 2 minutes; then let cool. No need to add food coloring; keeps them in food all winter long!

Creating memories is what "life" is all about. Not so much as "money" items at all; especially at this time of the year. Living with my aunt when I was younger; she had 4 small children and was working; on her days off she would say "well I should do this and this and this and this"; but I am instead going to go to the river, and have a picnic with my children. For I will never be able to regain the time they are this age; and far to soon they will be grown and gone. That stuff can be put off til later; My focus is going to be on spending my time off with them!"

Loved her attitude, her way of seeing and doing and choosing; somehow she managed when they were sleeping to take care of the laundry, etc; but she never let the "shoulds" take control of her life; and never had to look back with regret saying "I wish I had done this instead";  she did indeed choose wisely, and I thank her for the lesson she taught me!

People are the priority; and choosing to treasure them and letting them know it, from the heart is such a gift; kindness shown to others; just a simple kind remark brought tears to me, back then. I treasure these memories the most; others say "don't you remember this or that about the person; I always respond: no, the acts of kindness are the ones I remember the most. That stand shining above all the others. Simple acts of kindnesses, simple words; that meant  so incredibly much to me.

Be kind, be kind, be kind! Words can be so helpful; and mean so incredibly much that they stand out like lighthouses in memories of dark times in the hearts of someone you never knew was in such hurt.  Words can hurt, or words can heal. Develope a habit of kindness; a kindness in tone, a kindness in attitude, a kindness in not letting your "mind" race ahead of you as you go thru life; but train it to focus on what is being said to you; and paying the gift of kindness to the person enough to hear what is being said; instead of rushing so much through life, with all the "shoulds".  Kindness is free; and from the heart. But it must be developed and worked on;

Things will never mean as much as people do. The "buy buy buy" at Christmas was manufactured by retailers; for the money. The memories will never be of "items" received; but of the gathering together of loved ones; the converstions, the games played with others; the special silly "turkey dance" that became a ritual for the children; that never made any sense at all; but just special memories for the children; who laughed with delight at the person who "created" it just for her children as a memory of holidays! (it was not me, someone I knew) she didn't have much money; but she gave her children the greatest gifts of silliness that anyone ever knew!

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