The art of the gift

I'm almost done Christmas shopping! I have a few finishing touches here and there, but my to-do list is definitely dwindling down. I cozied up with some wassail and Christmas music in the background as I wrapped all the presents I've gotten already. Now, they finally live under our Christmas tree instead of hiding in the back of my closet.

One of the great joys of the season is putting time into finding gifts personal to those in your life, then getting to see their reaction as they open it. The closer we get to Christmas, the more pressure there is to find the perfect gift and quick. But the joy given is always worth the work.

Think of the best gift you've ever received.

Likely, it wasn't something on a wishlist you sent out. If you're anything like me, the gifts that mean the most — that you think of for years to come — are gifts given because the sender really understood you, and got something to prove it.

For me, it was a Christmas gift from my best friend Meredith when we were in high school. I had decided for one reason or another that I wanted to go into writing. I think I was 16. I did not yet know I wanted to be a journalist — back then, I think I was leaning toward pursuing poetry — but it felt right. I had no reason to believe it would be a viable career path and was in need of some blind faith that I could do it. Coincidentally, Meredith and I had been into the Perks of Being a Wallflower at that same general time.

So one night in December, Meredith came over to exchange gifts. When I opened her present to me, I found several components of what a writer should have. To name a couple, she included what a writer uses (including sushi-shaped erasers) and what a writer wears (a tacky and wonderful sweater paired with fox slippers). That alone was a perfect gift. But then she took me outside and opened the trunk of her car — inside, the most beautiful olive-green typewriter with my last name inside the case. Also, a note: write about us.

I think about that gift every Christmas (and countless other times during the year). It often serves as a reminder to me that I always have people in my corner. But during this time of year, it's motivation to make someone feel the way I felt that night.