By Sara Aeikens, Guest Column

Capturing the Christmas spirit to use on an everyday basis is a gift for all of us, especially as we age. If we&8217;ve been used to mainly giving and being of service in very active ways when our families were growing up, when our family members leave, we may find we need to adjust to entirely different roles. We could call this adjusted role the gift of gracious receiving.

We often make it very clear that we don&8217;t want help or support even when we need it because we may think it is selfish or we should be able to do all that we did when we were younger. If we would think how we&8217;d feel if someone continuously refused our help because they say they need to be independent, that might help us be more open to receiving the gift of support. One of my friends told me bluntly that it&8217;s like saying &8220;phooey&8221; in their face to someone who is offering you a gift from their heart.

The other side of creative sharing is that gift giving shares a message of love that is not determined by the cost, size, or glitter of the gift. It is something special we have uniquely thought up for our loved ones.

My dad liked unshelled peanuts, so we kids would think up an animal to draw or paste on a brown paper bag, like a big ears bunny.

My mom taught me how to sew, so I made her rugged handmade hot pads.

In my visits with senior friends, even those with eye sight loss, I&8217;ve noticed many are making items of their own handiwork that are lovely. They share flowers, make treats, crochet dishrags, collect dolls, or tell a joke, link arms, or give a smile. However, they often may discount their

value as gifts that others might appreciate, when in fact, they send precious messages of love.

Whether receiving or giving, it&8217;s the sharing that elevates our spirit and can actually affect our health positively. When I was standing in the check-out line at a local grocery store recently, the clerk looked very pre-occupied.

When I asked him how things were going, he stated they are better when he gets off work and he&8217;s bored standing eight hours at a time. I made a bet with him that he&8217;d be less bored if he greeted each person with eye contact and a smile. I&8217;ll see if I won my bet my next grocery shopping round.

Our postman just stopped in and told me that his day goes much better and faster when he briefly talked to his people on his route.

For seniors who are increasingly limited by physical disabilities, their using a kind word or just caring eye contact can transform someone else&8217;s day, as well as their own. We all may be losing some skills and abilities as we grow older, but it&8217;s the little creative positive things in our connections that count.

Sara Aeikens resides in Albert Lea.