The Best Gift (Closet)

Helane Androne

English Professor | Writing Life Coach | Actor & VO Artist

December 21, 2023

Open Immersive Reader

There’s a giving season upon us! It’s always fun to start looking for that perfect gift for someone you care about, even if it can be a little stressful. When it comes to gift giving, there’s a serious method to the madness in my family. It’s a strategy that can make a huge difference in how you think about gifting.

My mom used to buy gifts all year round and keep them in a box in a closet. It was the “gift closet” and it got filled up regularly. If there was a birthday for anyone, a shower, a gift exchange, or any event to attend that required a gift (even if a gift wasn’t officially required), she’d reach into that Gift Closet and pull out something adorable, appropriate, or otherwise perfect. Now, I understand the strategy: Whenever my mom would find a sale, she’d go ahead and purchase those interesting or unique things that she knew would fit someone’s particular interests or goals. This grandchild wants to be an artist one day? She would purchase that cool art set that was on sale–with plans to give it to her on her birthday, even if that was months away.

After I started having kids, I found myself doing the same thing. I mean, it makes sense right? Those sales that happen early in the year or during Black Friday, which is apparently now its own month, can supply a LOT of those holiday party gifts, teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, and other “I need an under $20 gift for the exchange!” gifts. These days I have my own Gift Closet and, let me tell you, I didn’t know this before, but having one transforms your brain and your behavior. Beware, because that Gift Closet comes with an internal radar for finding every relevant sale, everywhere, and ALL the time. There is a thrill knowing that you already have what you need for some gift-giving opportunity. The semi-annual, the after Christmas, the back-to-school, the online only--whatever sale it is, your radar is ready to strategically fill that Gift Closet. If you have a Gift Closet or box, then you know what I'm talking about. (Don't pretend like you can't pull a $5 bottle of aromatherapy lotion out right NOW if you had to.) During the Christmas season, those of us with Gift Closets can joyfully disappear into them and emerge with stocking stuffers and teacher gifts galore. The Gift Closet is a time saver AND a money saver because we plan ahead.

But then there is that moment when the system fails.

I remember being really frustrated because I found myself unprepared for a teacher gift. Now, it wasn’t that I didn’t have a gift–Are you kidding me? I had mugs and candles and tumblers! The problem was a brain fart; I had been so busy (procrastination) that week that my son had to remind me that we needed our teacher gift TODAY…The only problem was that we were already in the car en route to school. Of course.

I had a packed day with NO time to get back home to scour through my (obviously amazing and complete) supply to find the right teacher gift. Here was my child, disappointed, which in a child comes out as devastated, that he wouldn’t have his teacher gift for his (now) absolute FAVORITE teacher (ever, and of all time). And it was the last day before school was breaking for the holidays. Of course.

HOW in the world could I NOT have a gift ready when I had a whole genius Gift Closet process? How did this happen? I’ll tell you how it happened: I had mastered the entrance strategy, but I had no exit strategy. I knew how to choose, save money (!), and store my gifts, but I didn’t have a plan for the giving process. I was all plans and process for the front end, but when it came to the back end, to the part where my gifts were meant to exit that closet and make it to the people they were intended for, there was a gap.

Without balance, my Gift Closet had just become hoarding in disguise.

Lean in, Creative, because this is where it gets real. You know what’s interesting? Be careful that your Gift Closet strategy isn’t the same strategy you use with your internal gifts and talents. Listen, all along the way, we are living our lives, gaining knowledge, stumbling on excellent opportunities, and gathering the knowledge and blessings that we intend to share with someone. We pile up all that expertise in an internal Gift Closet.

One day I will pull this expertise I have out. One day I will share that knowledge gift with someone who will just love it. One day. But what happens when God presents an opportunity for you to share your knowledge and your expertise? Will you be ready? Are you prepared for that? We know the gifts we have in our internal Gift Closet are meant to be given away, even if we aren’t quite sure of the recipients just yet. That’s how the Gift Closet works; everything we picked up along the journey has value and will bless someone when the time comes. But without an exit strategy, those gifts can pile up, unshared. Hoarded. For some of us, the only thing standing between that wonderful Gift Closet and an episode of “Hoarding” might be how prepared we are to give.

I had to get myself together. I was so mad at myself over that situation that I decided it would not happen again. Not only would I have everything I needed in that Gift Closet, but I would also have my Gift “exit strategy” together too. I would make sure that I was prepared to share a gift at all times. I took an old set of rolling drawers and posted those in the Gift Closet space. I filled every drawer with get-it-ready gifting stuff–tissue paper, ribbon, boxes, different gift bags, organized by size. And on top I placed a set of scissors, tape and glue.

My new gift exit strategy also included a pathway: That means that, during gifting seasons, I have a "bagged and tagged" gift in my car, ready. I am looking for my gift fulfillment opportunity! My face during this season says: Try me. This strategy has been even more productive than I imagined. Now, there is a system for moving stuff out of my Gift Closet and into my car. And because that gift is in my car, I am more likely to freely give it to someone whenever an opportunity presents itself. Sometimes, it's the best gift for the teacher; sometimes it's the best gift for the guy standing at that one corner, holding a sign, every morning. The gifts are moving because I'm ready. Picture me happily doing more giving–and less hoarding.

The same principle operates for your internal Gift Closet. Find your exit strategy. Make a plan. Leaving your gifts in that closet means you’ll waste money. You’ll waste time. You’ll waste mental energy. The BEST Gift Closet is the one you replenish because it's consistently being emptied out.

It’s never too late to create a gift exit strategy.

Listen, if you have gifts that you need to take out of that closet so they can make a real impact; or, if you’ve been procrastinating because you know you need support…just comment below that you want to schedule a complimentary consultation or DM me and we will get you set up with a time for us to talk.

AND, if you want more quick tips like this, you can follow me on Instagram, TikTok or Youtube @drhelanewrites. I’ll see you there! https://linktr.ee/drhelanewrites