The 10 Best Christmas Gifts (They Don’t Cost A Dime)

Whatever your beliefs, we’re about to end one year and begin another. And at this time of year, people all over the world exchange gifts. It’s one of the most meaningful ways we express love and strengthen our relationships—at home and at work.

After glancing at thousands of gift ideas advertised online and in catalogs, I’ve come to a surprising conclusion. I believe I’ve discovered the ten best Christmas gifts ever—and I want to pass them along to you as my gift this season.

There are two things that make these gifts especially meaningful.

First, although they won’t cost you a dime, they are anything but cheap. When you give one of these gifts, you are offering something priceless: yourself.

Second, these gifts don’t expire. You can keep giving them all year long—and they strengthen relationships far more than any store-bought present or gift certificate ever could.

Merry Christmas,

Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Alan@DrZimmerman.com
www.DrZimmerman.com
Telephone: +1-239-273-7743

The 10 Best Christmas Gifts

by Dr. Alan Zimmerman

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 The Gift of Listening
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Psychologists tell us that one of the greatest gifts we can give another person is our full attention. Why not give this gift to someone who lives alone—or to anyone who feels unheard?

Real listening means no interrupting, no daydreaming, no checking your phone, and no planning your response. It means being fully present.

And if you doubt the value of this gift, consider the research. When young children were asked what they wanted most from their parents, the answer wasn’t toys or treats. It was eye contact. In other words: “Put down the phone. Look at me. Listen.”

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 The Gift of Laughter
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Everyone loves to laugh. Give those you love the gift of laughter. Clip a cartoon, share a joke, save a clever article, or pass along a funny story.

Your message will be simple and powerful: “I want you to be happy—and I hope this puts a smile on your face and a chuckle in your belly.”

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 The Gift of a Compliment
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Give more sincere compliments to your friends, family members, and coworkers. A simple “Your smile lights up the room,” or “Your creativity is amazing,” or “Your help on that project really saved the day” can make a lasting difference—at work and at home.

If you’re not sure what to say, start with The Language of Validation—sentences that affirm others but are rarely spoken and never forgotten.

For example, begin with the words “I respect…”
When was the last time someone said, “I respect you for…”?

Other powerful starters include:
I admire…
I celebrate…
I cherish…
I value…
I applaud…
I love…
I appreciate…

Each one is a gift.

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 The Gift of a Handwritten Note
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Write notes to the people you love. They can be as simple as “I love you” or as creative as a poem you write yourself. Tuck them into lunches, sock drawers, desk drawers, purses, or mailboxes. The surprise may be brief—but the impact will last.

I can attest to this personally. As I recently went through boxes of items inherited from my grandparents, what struck me most were their most valuable possessions that they had kept for decades. They weren’t things—but handwritten letters, notes, and postcards dating back to the early 1900s.

Your handwritten note is more than words on paper.
It is a gift.

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 The Gift of a Favor
```

Do favors for those on your list. Help with the dishes. Shovel the driveway. Run an errand. Clean out the basement. Type up that letter.

This gift becomes even more valuable when it anticipates a request rather than responds to one.

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 The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition
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Make a conscious effort to be cheerful around those you love and those you work with. That means no complaining, no self-pity, no nasty comments, no yelling, and no pessimistic predictions.

Your cheerful presence may be one of the most precious gifts others receive this season—including you.

And remember: you don’t have to feel cheerful to give this gift. Act cheerfully, and more often than not, the feeling follows.

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 The Gift of Affection
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Take time to show affection. Be generous with hugs, kisses, hand squeezes, and pats on the back. Let these small gestures communicate the love, respect, and appreciation you carry inside.

Sometimes the smallest actions speak the loudest.

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 The Gift of a Game
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Most people have at least one game they enjoy—tennis, golf, cards, chess, Monopoly, or the latest board game. Offer to play your loved one’s favorite game.

Even if you lose, you’ll still win—because you’ll have shared time and an experience together.

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 The Gift of Space
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There are moments when we all need to be left alone. Become more sensitive to those times in the lives of others—and respond generously by giving them the gift of privacy, solitude, or quiet.

Respecting space is often an act of love.

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 The Gift of Prayer
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One of the most immaterial—and most valuable—gifts you can give is prayer. Pray for the people on your list: friends, family members, coworkers, customers.

And if it feels appropriate, let them know.
Praying for someone is another way of saying, “You are so important to me that I often talk to God about you.”

One final thought:
This season, don’t try to give all ten gifts. Choose just one—and give it generously. It may be remembered long after the decorations are packed away.

Merry Christmas—and best wishes for the year ahead.

Dr. Zimmerman’s Tuesday Tip Issue 1325 [Tuesday Tip] The 10 Best Christmas Gifts (They Don’t Cost A Dime)

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