Don't Buy It, Make It

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be over, but the holiday shopping season continues.  Maybe you found those perfect gifts for the people in your life, and if you did, that's great.  You can stop reading this post (but please humor me and read on).  If you're like me, though, you avoided the crowds and the mayhem to stay home and wonder what to get the people who have everything and say they want nothing for Christmas.

Of course, I can't give some people nothing for Christmas (especially when I know they already got me something), so I went to almighty Google to ask what to get people who say they want nothing.  Well, I was impressed to see that you could actually buy the "Jar of Nothing" from various places ranging in price from $3.50 to $19.95.  That's something for nothing!  Actually, the Jar of Nothing comes with a lot of humor, but somehow I think the recipients would fail to see it.

I racked my brain to think of what to gift the people who want nothing and came up with something that can't come from any store--the handmade gift (ta-da!).  My husband photographs landscapes and I knit and crochet, so the people who want nothing will get some artwork for the walls and woolly hats to wear.

I'm sure everyone has a hobby, interest, or particular talent.  Maybe it's baking, crafting, woodworking, sewing, leatherworking, or something else.  Think about what you can do and turn it into a gift that comes from the heart.  If you need some help, come to the library and check out our DIY books.  You'll save some frustration.  And if people don't appreciate the handmade gifts this year, then I'll present the Jar of Nothing to them next year.

Wishing you a stress-free, happy season of giving from the perch.

Practice Thankfulness

I've talked about having an Attitude of Gratitude in the past, but with Thanksgiving coming up, I thought it might be good to revisit the subject.  It seems like a lot of people feel down about the state of the world these days and tend to focus more on the negative than on the positive.  I'd like to think of the glass being half full, so here's a list of things for which we all can be thankful:

• Weekends--Those 2 days a week to rest, recharge, have fun, do something, do nothing are just magical, aren't they?
• Fresh Air--It smells good, fills up our lungs, and we wouldn't be around without it.
• Learning from Mistakes--Nobody's perfect, so isn't it great our mistakes can be our best teachers?
• Laughter--Sometimes you just can't take life too seriously and need to laugh it up.
• Sunshine--Those warm rays sure make the day bright and cheery.
• Time--It's a gift to be used well.
• Rainbows--Those pretty colors in the sky don't happen often, but they sure are pretty!
• Waking Up--If you woke up this morning, be happy--it's another day you're here!
• Your Mind--It's a rather remarkable instrument; just look at all the different things you can do!
• Music--Doesn't listening to your favorite tunes put a spring in your step?
• Libraries and Books--Come on, you know I had to include them! The gateways to so many things!

Personally, I'm also thankful for my family (even though they drive me crazy sometimes), my good health (so far), and working in a library (5 days a week).  What are some of the things you feel thankful about?

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving from the perch.