Presence over Presents

I recently came across the saying “presence over presents.” I liked it so much that I made it one of the mantras this week to share with you all. 

I have a holiday buying plan, but it is hard at times to stick with it as everywhere I look, I am being “sold” something. Repeating “presence over presents” numerous times a day has helped me stay the course of said plan. I have also focused more of my gifting this year on “experiences” instead of “things” to help pass along that foundation to my family.

Refocusing on presence has also helped me evaluate each day this season and ask myself: Am I giving the gift of ‘me’ as fully as I would like to? Just pausing and asking that question allows me to let intentions override habitually grabbing my phone, “to do” list, or other distraction. I’m able to fully engage with what I’m doing and set aside my phone and laptop more easily.

Just the other day, I was baking cookies with the kids and my monkey mind started to “work” on other things. I gently repeated my intention of being fully present and then dropped back into the now. In addition, while talking with friends and family, I’ve made sure I’m only talking with them and not also doing dishes or putting away laundry.

The more I think about my intention of presence, the more I realize the chance to be present offers itself up over and over throughout the day. I just need to remind myself to stay there. Sure, the gift to others might be my undivided attention, but I feel like I’m the bigger winner, as the gift to me is connecting fully with everything I do on a deeper level. And that is the definition of fulfillment.