Your undivided attention a great gift

Are you looking for a different kind of gift this year for the special people in your life? Would you like to find something that won’t wear out, become obsolete, lose its value and require no cash outlay? Then, perhaps you would like to consider giving these significant individuals in your life a gift that only you can give and truly comes from your heart. The gifts I speak of come packaged as healthy relationships and effective communication.

Let’s start off with a gift for your spouse first.

• The first thing your spouse will find when this package is opened is the total attention (also known as active listening) that you will practice in your conversations with your spouse. Digging a little deeper in this package you will come to friendship and partnership with a balance of power in the relationship. Finally at the very center of this package, the most cherished part of the gift, your spouse will find your total commitment and unwavering commitment to making him or her your number one priority.

• The next package will be for your children. The articles in this package consist of good listening skills, willingness to set limits and boundaries and be consistent, warmth and affection and the biggest gift in the package, that of unconditional love. You may not always approve of their attitude or behavior but they know and understand that you love them in spite of their flaws and deficiencies.

• Your package for your parents consist of expressions of gratitude for the endless number of things they have done to help you in life, the love and nurturance they have provided and the sacrifices they have made for you. An extra hug, a phone call or a special card at Christmas completes this package.

• The gift for your friends consists of willingness to be a good listener, your empathy when they need it, and the reaffirmation that you will be available to them when they need you.

• For your employer a strong message of gratitude for your job and assurances that you are a team player and appreciative of his or her efforts at providing you a job. The gift of loyalty is a part of this package.

• If you are an employer, your gift consists of appreciation conveyed to each and every one of your employees for a job well done. Your expressions of trust and confidence, good communication skills and commitment are all part of your present to them.

• The final gift is to yourself. Self acceptance, good health habits, a sense of humor and the recognition that you are very special to many people and touch the lives of others in ways that you will never know about.

Merry Christmas to all of you, my readers.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1999