The latter may have us running in circles for weeks to find the perfect Christmas gift, but only the former can make it all worthwhile. How present were you when picking your presents? That’s what determines the recipient’s face as they unwrap it. Is it proof of your empathy and thoughtfulness? Or is it actually “an absent,” mindlessly ordered online so you can move on with your day?
The best presents of all, however, are the ones sitting around us as we open our packages. They’re the ones that really count, and it’s our presence in their midst that makes Christmas worth celebrating. Ask the people you love some new questions. Really listen to their answers. Toast to their health and mean it, or quietly clink your glasses together and enjoy each other’s company in silence.
Everyone loves a good gift, but remember: In the end, it’s presence over presents, because one is a singular opportunity, whereas the other is a gesture we can always make next year.