The accepted premise behind giving gifts is showing love, appreciation and affection. Take this opportunity to write to your loved ones this season. Note down what you treasure about them and expand on the joy they bring to your daily life. Let it be a living testament to the love you hold for each person in your life. Something that they can reread in moments of despair or heartache. Get your creative juices flowing by personalizing it with whatever takes your fancy.  

Taking care of the love so freely and willingly bestowed on you is an entirely different matter. The “I love you” saying can become less effective and special and even appear trite as it often slips out effortlessly when you say it daily to your children, partner, family, friends and pets. It is far better to expand on the “I love you” with meaningful actions and words. Therefore, cultivate the habit of highlighting the value the gift of their love has added to your life by expressing gratitude. This allows you to genuinely appreciate their gift of love when you notice their loving behaviour and words. Energy flows where attention goes, therefore make it part of your routine to note and express gratitude to your loved ones regularly. Expressing gratitude to them for the good in your relationship will bring more of the same. 

Letting them know what you appreciate about them enhances your relationship. Whether you decide on a card, a letter or a mini book, the possibilities are endless. When you infuse your relationship with an intentional gratitude practice you generate positivity and good feelings into your relationships which strengthen and enhances your bond. It will make them feel appreciated as well as imbue and infuse your relationship with positivity and emotional resilience to withstand everyday stresses.  

We should actually be treasuring this precious gift as love is the gifting of self by nourishing it daily with the expression of gratitude. Gratitude, whether a heartfelt thank you or a scribbled little note is a positive force that promotes and nourishes growth in your relationships.  

Love is associated with the heart for love affects your whole being. So, loving someone or being loved is the most priceless gift. Love is given willingly, freely without any expectation. True love cannot be bought nor summoned at will. Love is what you are that is why you cannot love another truly until you love yourself. 

So today celebrate your loved ones by recognising how each one adds to the fullness of your life. Then make a concerted effort to express your gratitude and appreciation by word, action or note. Trust that you will be inspired into action by the accompanying quotes. Give love this holiday.  

The greatest gift you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention - Anthony D’Angelo 

Stop ignoring yourself, your joy and pain deserve your attention as much as anyone else.  

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give - Kahlil Gibran 

Giving someone of yourself is priceless as you are giving them of yourself, your joy, your understanding, your interests, all that is alive in you. It requires you to channel your time and attention to focus on them, building priceless memories in the process.  

God wants nothing of you but the gift of a peaceful heart - Meister Eckhart 

We tend to rob ourselves of our peace with senseless worry and fear. Enough. Better to trust in life as it restores your faith in the Divine and rewards you with peace in your heart that everything will be ok. 

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving - Anonymous 

You give freely and willingly of yourself without expectations when you love, as love is underwritten by the gifting of self. You can however give someone a present without feeling love for them. 

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a promise, today is God’s gift, that’s why we call it the present - Joan Rivers 

 Recognize that today is indeed a present from the Divine and be grateful for this gift as tomorrow is not assured. 

If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence - Thich Nhat Hahn 

Showering your loved one with your presence and loving attention is a much more precious gift as it cannot be bought in a shop. It is more meaningful as you are gifting yourself to them. Giving your attention is a far greater gift than a mere bauble. The former is priceless and the latter can be bought anywhere and everywhere.  

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing - Mother Teresa 

A smile received does brighten your mood and makes you feel special and loved as your being is acknowledged. When a smile is bestowed on you it makes you respond in kind, thankful for being acknowledged.