giftgivingontheMainline

Giving the Perfect Gift... on the Main Line

Hi Neighbor! Holiday gift giving makes me anxious. I dread giving a bad gift, so when I hit the jackpot purchase, I’m over the moon! Out of the blue last Saturday, my niece (a mother…

Hi Neighbor!

Holiday gift giving makes me anxious. I dread giving a bad gift, so when I hit the jackpot purchase, I’m over the moon!

Out of the blue last Saturday, my niece (a mother of two little ones) texted me a picture of a book titled, In My Heart: A Book of Feelings, by Jo Witek. The text read, “Hey Aunt Beth! You bought this book for Amelia a while back. I wanted to show you how worn it is because we read it ALL the time! Amelia loves it. We always think of you when we read it. Miss you!”

The tattered book was ripped, the binding broken and the cover a little bent. This text made me feel closer to my niece and her kids whom I don’t see often because they live in Alabama. It was the perfect gift, making the giver and recipient equally happy!

I thought the gift was spot-on when I had a visceral reaction reading it at the bookstore. I teared up from its intoxicating but direct lyrical prose. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions and our physical reactions to them. Here’s a snippet from the book: “Sometimes my heart feels like a big yellow star, shiny and bright. I smile from ear to ear…Other times, my heart feels strong. I stand up tall, as if I can touch the clouds…When I get really angry, my heart feels as if it’s going to explode! Don’t come near me!”

I hope gift-giving season conjures ear-to-ear smiles for gift givers and receivers this holiday season!

Happy Gifting,
Beth