22 December – Wrap Your Presents

Hopefully by now you have managed to procure everything on your present list, and the time has come to prepare these gifts for their lucky recipients. Your task: don’t treat this as a chore simply to be got out of the way; see it rather as a perfect opportunity to exercise some mindfulness.

The aim is to be present in every moment as you carefully wrap your gifts. For each item, take a moment to think about why you have bought it for this particular person, and how you hope they will enjoy and appreciate it. How does this make you feel? Excited for Christmas morning? Nervous that they won’t like it? Note your emotions without judgement.

Don’t rush through it. Carefully measure the right amount of wrapping paper; observe the feel and sound of the scissors as they cut through the paper; notice the stickiness of the sellotape. Keep your mind invested in the present as you make each careful fold. Feel the satisfaction of doing a good job.

By focusing our mind on each little component of a seemingly mundane task like this, we open ourselves up to meaningful experiences that could easily pass us by.

My reflection

I have already wrapped most of my presents, so today there was nothing left to wrap. There is, however, one gift waiting for tomorrow, and I intend to approach it with the care and mindfulness suggested in today’s activity, rather than rushing to simply get it done.

I did spend some time writing a few more Christmas cards today. Tomorrow, I plan to hand-deliver them and turn that into a mindful moment of its own — heading out early in the morning, when the world is quieter and my senses are still fresh. I like the idea of letting the day begin gently, before it gathers pace.

Today felt long, but I felt prepared, and that made all the difference. One of my tasks was cooking twelve eggs for my Christmas Eve potato salad for twelve people. It was a practical job, yet also a quiet act of care. Tomorrow morning, I’ll continue that preparation by cooking the potatoes first thing, carrying that same sense of intention into the day.

Today reminded me that even in the busyness of December, small, thoughtful moments — writing a card, preparing food, planning ahead — can become grounding when we slow down and give them our full attention.

Meanwhile, my cat provided her own festive mindfulness, quietly grooming herself and popping up in unexpected places — a gentle reminder to pause, observe, and enjoy the moment, cat wash and all.

Gentle cat wash