Lets take a moment to realize something here. We all give gifts to the people we love. We do it on holidays, birthdays, and sometimes we do it because we genuinely just want to. But what is it about giving a gift to yourself that makes it worthwhile? What kind of gifts am I speaking of?
In my earlier days, when I was a baby at the age of 18, I would give gifts all around. To everyone that i loved. Especially my girlfriend. Even when I was broke I gave her a free flower from the grass. She didn’t know it was from the grass but she suspected it was too earthy to be from a shop. There were still thorns on it.
When she noticed the thorns that’s when she realized I had got it from the ground. This was a goodbye gift to her. We had broke up that night. In front of church of all things. I could imagine God saying “Can you not do this in front of my house?” I didn’t think of that at the moment. What I was thinking of was her. And how sad she was when I told her that the thorns signify our relationship.
It was beautiful at first sight but in reality it was dangerous
That night changed me in a way to realize something. Two things
- One, I was single
- Two, I had time for myself
Today, at the tender age of I’m not going to tell you, I am working on me. Actually, many other Generation X kids are. This is what we should be doing all along. Not that we shouldn’t pursue others to have families but we need to make sure we’re good before doing so.
Work on our patience. Work on our finances. Work on our care. These things are important in order to live in this world when you’re alone. It may feel scary or that you need a companion but trust me when the time comes it will happen to you. That beautiful union will then transpire. Then a dog. And then kids. Ok, I may be getting ahead of myself. I’m acting like your grandparents or aunts.
Giving the gift to yourself means spending time for yourself. Even if you’re in a relationship. If you want to take a vacation then go right along. You want to skydive? Sure. Wouldn’t be me but you get where I’m headed with this. When you take time for yourself you are not depending on others. You get more things done because there are less distractions. Less reasons to not do that paper you were going to write. Or paint that image you were going to create.
Doing so will allow you to take on actions and recreations you may otherwise have put aside. You could become the best lamp maker in the world but you would never know it because you were preoccupied with going to the bar.
Friends are also a getaway when working on yourself. I didn’t say working on yourself with your buddies. They take a back seat as well. Hanging out with them can still be a thing just not as much as you used to. That’s when you get to know who you are. Don’t even let the media or a celebrity tell you what you should be. You will find it out when you release these things that are holding you back. Besides, its not like these celebrities pay your bills anyway.
Do new activities. You will find things you love and things you hate but you will never know if you don’t try. Trying means taking on the challenge at hand and declaring to that challenge that you’re gonna make it happen. That you will persevere at what it is you are attempting. More time for yourself is important so you can be prepared to let someone else join with you. Then that companion is the gift to you.
