The greatest gift we can give
Originally published on The JOLT News on December 24, 2025
Throughout the holiday season, we have seen many wonderful performances in our beloved Thurston County, and what a gift each of those were.
Maybe this holiday season, you gave or received performance tickets as a gift, and you know I absolutely love that. Performance tickets are a fabulous gift, not just because of the reasons I have echoed throughout this column this year, but because of something that goes much deeper.
Living in a cyber centric society has its benefits and consequences, the greatest of which is living in a consistent state of distractibility. We receive shocking updates so frequently that we either grow desensitized to it all, or are in a constant state of sorrow.
Our attention spans are growing shorter and we are distancing ourselves from the inconvenience of being human, which sometimes requires us to wait rather than instantly gratify or discover. Maybe your Christmas shopping was made even harder this year because you either had to shop for an adult (who also has an Amazon Prime account) or a child who just wants the latest and greatest in technology. I still hope that Santa is in the business of making toys.
This week, we have the opportunity to let go of all of that and just enjoy one another’s company. If you find yourself alone, there might still be chances for in person interactions: see what restaurants are open and chat with the servers, go to the movies, or see where you might be able to lend a helping hand to people less fortunate.
Regardless of where you find yourselves today, remember this: the greatest gift we can give is being present.
To be present
To be present is to give your full attention, to set aside the distractions, and to open your heart and mind generously. The longest lasting gift of the holidays are our memories (which can never be donated, resold or regifted). We cannot make memories without being present. When we give people, animals, and or nature our full attention, it makes a positive difference, making them feel loved, seen and valued — isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
When you give the gift of being present for others, you are at the same time giving yourself a gift. You might be thinking, what about that one relative who drives me crazy? Yes, being present for them too will also be a blessing to you because they might drive you crazy, but you still love and care about them. None of us know how much time we will be given for our lives, so we must take the opportunity to love one another while we still can.
That said, sometimes loving people and being present means shorter visits, going on walks outside by yourself for a bit, or even taking a little longer in the bathroom (which could be where you are reading this right now). Take those moments because they will fuel you to keep going, and they will ultimately make you more patient, and thus make the visit more pleasant for everyone. Another way to make challenging visits easier is by taking everyone to a performance — just a thought for the future!
Oh, and for goodness sake if someone brings up politics, change the subject to anything — if you really want to change the tone, just start talking about the Muppets and asking Muppet related questions. Trust me, it works well. My family says that I am a combination of Gonzo, Kermit and Miss Piggy, and they are not wrong. Now that’s a conversation to be present for!
You can also grab art supplies (even if you only have paper and pencils) or games to get everyone away from the TV and engaged in the moment.
Holiday magic is for everyone
I’ve heard it said that Christmas is for the children, but I know that magic still exists out there that everyone can enjoy. We just have to be present for it.
Magic can be found in:
The delicious smell coming from the oven
Winter breezes
Sunsets
In the birds or deer that appear by the window, or on a nature walk.
String or candle lights
Wagging tales of pets
Conversations
Laughter
Smiles
Tears
Hugs & kisses
And, of course, in the arts!
Wherever you find holiday magic this week or however you choose to be present, I wish you the merriest of merriest, the warmest of wishes, and much comfort and joy!
With love,
Rachel
https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/the-greatest-gift-we-can-give,27482?