little gifts.

I began bullet journaling at the beginning of the year. It’s given me the much needed opportunity to look ahead in the calendar and realign with my long-neglected intention of gift giving. Birthdays, special days, just-because days. And to be very honest very quickly, I’ve forgotten the art of gift giving! I can’t remember if I’ve ever been very good at it, but I can remember being in awe of my friends and family who seem to take their time and be very thoughtful about little gifts. I remember a couple of years ago, during a massive renovation of our entire house that had us completely displaced, a friend gave me a box of Honey Nut Cheerios for my birthday. I also remember her husband looking at her with “that look” that said, “REALLY?!” and she and I looked at each other, me with tears in my eyes and my face flushing red because she knew me so very well. They’re my favorite treat, one that I only give myself about four times a year. It was the perfect gift, one that I only indulge in stressful times or when I need a great amount stability or comfort in my day-to-day, and she gave me that.
So I search. I’ve started to search for those little things that might be the perfect thing. While this isn’t a plug (but who wouldn’t plug this!), I did find a small artisan gift box subscription that is so interesting and unique. It’s a company called Globe In, which you can read about here. Of course, I had to order a little gift box to test it out…you know…see if it made the cut. ;)
This month, it’s a lovely crafted piece from Tunisia, complete with a little card of information about the artisans in their part of the world. The bowl and card are little conversation pieces about our global citizenship and how other countries are thriving or recovering or rebuilding, you name it. But the bottom line is this: we don’t know what we don’t know. Not only is this something pretty and thoughtful to give, it’s a way to learn beyond ourselves. Beyond our private bubbles of communities and more about the world at large. About people. About resiliency and craft and honor and good, hard work. About pride and gifts of talent in art.
Also, weirdly enough, the bowl is the perfect size to hold a two-week-old farm bunny.
Cutest gift pairing ever!
Now. Who’s birthday is coming up? Bunnies in bowls for everyone!