Dec22

the gift of nothing.

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The Gift of Nothing considers two main subjects:

the concept of nothing and the value of friendship.

What do you give a friend who already has everything?

Why, you give them nothing at all.

One of my favorite books, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, ‘The Gift Of Nothing,’ explores the meaning of friendship and the meaning of gifts.

What is a friend and what is a gift? Things might not be what actually make people happy. Perhaps it is the people and our relationships with them that really make us happy.

Why do we give gifts? Is it to show that we care about the person and that we are happy to be with them? If so, is the gift truly important or could the real gift be spending time with them?

Originally written for children, but loved by all ages.

 

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Author/Illustrator: Patrick McConnell, New York Times best selling author and Caldecott honor artist, creator of the popular comic strip Mutts.

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

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“the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

because when you give your time,

you are giving away a portion of your life that you will never get back.”

 -author unknown

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68 responses »

  4. I would love that book!
    As we are blessed with abundance; living in a safe and prosperous country, having a best-loved person and family, having an income, and good health (relatively) too, we truly don’t ‘need’ anything monetary. For many decades now, I bring happily little gifts when invited or visiting, the $ value is not important, but what I bring, is always chosen with love, care, and consideration.
    My most valuable gift to offer is my time. Already when my dad was still alive but ageing, me living abroad, I offered him one day of my life. I bought two day-trip-cards from our Swiss Railways and HE decides on what he’d want to do, see, visit, where and what to eat – and it was only then (late in his life) that he was able to open up and tell me things from his ‘former’ life of which nobody ever heard before. I remember that once, after a truly history-ripe outing, I brought him back to mum, and I gushed in the kitchen that ‘Had we known all that before, we would have understood him so much better, and wd have been more forgiving’…. to which my dear mum started to sob uncontrollably, because her own husband never ever was able to talk to her about the atrocities he lived through (during war)!!!!
    So PLEASE, all and everybody, give your time, your attention, your love – that is what counts at the end of the day.
    (sorry for that outpouring!)

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  6. A Very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Beth. I hope the holiday period, along with the coming New Year, brings you all the happiness and laughter you thoroughly deserve.

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  16. This is perfectly put. A number of years ago my sister announced she didn’t want to exchange birthday gifts anymore, that the gift of experiences together meant so much more to her than a gift card. I appreciated her thoughtful intentionality so much.

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  23. For my close friends, we stopped exchange gifts years ago and instead ensure we spend time together during the holidays – over a potluck with good food and the one thing money can’t buy: time with each other.

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  25. I love this post Beth! Anyone can spend 2 minutes clicking on line instead of an hour or two visiting. Also, a homemade gift means more than one you have no idea if they want or not, cookies are my favorite gift to give because who doesn’t love cookies.

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