Tag: gift

It’s been a rough year for many of us. Our country, as well as many others across the globe, has been ravaged by fierce political and social divides, unprecedented mass violence, and natural disasters from fires to hurricanes with the unfortunate promise of more to come.

As the Holidays roll around, it may be challenging—if not impossible—to feel the Holiday Spirit of peace, good will toward all, and the joy of a year well lived.

Spending your first Thanksgiving holiday with your new in-laws? Toss your expectations out the window and get ready to blend in with your in-laws and their "merry" ways. Here are a few etiquette tips to help you put your best foot forward when you are the guest of your new spouse's family during the holidays.

1. Show up with a gift. Your husband might not have a clue that you should never arrive empty handed. A nice hostess gift will go a long way in showing your appreciation for the holiday invitation to dinner.

Not only are you going to thank me after reading this article and seeing the response that you get from your partner, you'll also want to thank me for saving you money. Although many of us enjoy receiving physical gifts, the gifts that I am presenting to you today aren't physical objects and don't cost a dime.

Whether you're in a relationship with a man or a woman, these gifts are gender neutral. So, let's get right into it!

1. Focusing on the positive: Have you ever beaten yourself up over something you did or felt that you could have done better? Have you ever had an insecurity that nagged at you and drained your energy? Of course you haven't because you're an alien.

Much like the creative inspiration that flows through paint brushes and words of poetry, giving is an artful expression of caring for someone or something beyond ourselves.

Most of us learn the art of giving in our childhoods. I remember how my mother coordinated a neighborhood bakeoff so we could take sweet holiday treats to our local nursing home. With several other families, we delivered trays of goodies and sang carols for the residents. I remember how I felt as I witnessed gratitude through the eyes of elderly patients, some of whom could not speak.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be an occasion to celebrate love and romance. Instead, it often turns into an anxiety-producing, expectation-riddled competition that can lead to disappointment and frustration, especially in one’s marriage.

Here are a few questions from people suffering from what I call "Valentine’s Envy" and how you should answer them to keep the focus on love instead of hype this year.

1. Every Valentine's Day my best friend’s husband does something over-the-top. For instance

I was recently delighted with a special surprise evening. For our 20-year wedding anniversary, my husband insisted on planning a "Johnny Walker Surprise" that was not revealed to me until we reached the destination. (Yes, my husband's name really is Johnny Walker).

"A surprise? But, I don't like surprises," I replied. I say that, often, yet I have never actually encountered a surprise of his that I didn't like.

The basic premise of etiquette is to make you, your spouse and others comfortable with one other. It all hinges on respect, consideration and some good old common sense. But you would be amazed at how little some know about the most common everyday things. How well would you score on a courtesy pop quiz? Take a minute with your spouse and see how you both do when it comes to being respectful, not only to each other but also to those around you. Do you think you know more about being proper than your spouse? Print out two quizzes, whip out your number two pencil and see who comes out on top.