The Best Christmas "Present"

The festive season is upon us. Many of us are settling into the Christmas Mood and all the sensations and emotions that come with it. Naturally, our minds are inclined towards thinking about the people we love and care about. We wish to them to be happy,  to feel special, and of course, we want to know that we have contributed to these positive emotions. One way we typically offer our contribution to our closest is with a Christmas Gift, a Present.

As we want the Christmas to be really special and our beloved ones to feel great we are looking not for just any gift but for the best gift. But do we look at the right place?
When we strip it from all the various forms and socially conditioned rituals, what Christmas really is - is an opportunity for us to get together and spend some time savouring each other's company. And although a small token of our good intent can make the opportunity a bit more special, the real Gift, the best "Present" is something else entirely. And what is it ... ? Well, the hint is in the word itself. The best Christmas Present we can give the people around us and ourselves is:
Being Unconditionally Present
There is no greater gift to another human being than the gift of your complete, unconditional, undivided presence. 
There is no greater gift to another human being than seeing and feeling that you are 100% here for them. 
There is no greater gift to another human being than knowing they have your full attention. 
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Why is this so important? Because it shows that we truly care. When we fully embody our physical presence and allow our minds to rest on just what is we send three very powerful non-verbal messages to the people around us:

• "There is no one else I'd rather be with right now." 
• "There is no place else I'd rather be right now." 
• "There is nothing else I'd rather be doing right now."

And the effect of these messages is that it enables people around us to feel worhty, at home and at ease. 
It is also helpful to consider the other side of the coin or shall I say the other part of the present. And that is ...
Being Conditionally Absent
There is no greater Christmas spoiler than our conditioned expectations. Instead of bathing in the experience of things as they are, what we often "carry" with us on Christmas is a long list of demands and expectations about:

• Hot things "should" be.
• How people "should" behave.
• How we "should" feel.

With the willingness to let go of these artificial constraints comes a great sense of peace and relief. "I and others don't need to be a certain way for Christmas to be great." 
So, there you have it the - you can now officially close the "Christmas shopping season" and open the "Christmas giving season". And you can start giving right away wherever you are. 
And the really beautiful things about the gift of unconditional presence are:

• It is unlimited - you can always choose to be fully present and mindful wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
• It is "contagious" - the distinctive powerful aura of unconditional presence is attractive and generates strong resonance in the people around us. 
• The more you "give" the more you can give - the capacity to be present and mindful is like any other basic human ability - the more we exercise it the stronger it gets.

It is simple, it is immediate, it is powerful, it is great. Look no further for it has never been hidden. The best Christmas present you can "give" is always with you wherever you are. Let go of demands and expectations and be fully present and mindful for yourself and the people around you.
The present Christmas, be present, be the Present ...