I love this time of year. The decorations, the music, the food, but most of all it’s the generosity that comes out of a person’s heart. I also love PostSecret, a unique community art project created in 2005 by Frank Warren. For those who aren’t familiar with the project. Warren dreamed up an idea to empower people by letting them admit their deepest feelings and secrets anonymously. What made it unique was that he asked that people write their secrets down on post cards and mail them to him. The response was overwhelming with millions of people mailing him their secrets on creatively decorated post cards.
I decided to give a nod to the project and the holiday season by conducting a project of my own. I asked individuals to answer one question: If you could give one gift to one person, what would you give?
There were no limitations to what could be given, except that only one gift could be given and one person could be the recipient.* Participants were granted anonymity so that they could be as honest as they wanted. The answers that came in were incredible, revealing the true, selfless natures that come out when no one is looking.
If I could get anything, I would find the classic Corvette that my father had when he was younger and give it to him again. He always talked about how it was his prized possession and has been wanting to find one for as long as I can remember, but however since his entire life has been spent sacrificing and putting aside his needs and wants for the good of his family, I wish that just once I had the ability to get him what he wants without him worrying about others. It's a goal that I have always hoped to obtain and still hope I do. –K
I would give my parents the money that they need to never have to work again (if they chose not to). –S
My boyfriend used to run track and play football back in high school, and it was one of his greatest passions, especially track. He actually received a full-ride scholarship to a local collage due to his track prowess. But during a football game one night, he tore his ACL and had to have some pretty intense knee surgery, and as a result he lost his ability to do one of his favorite things. I can't even imagine what that must have felt like, to not be able to do something you love and not have any control over it. If I could, I would give him back the ability to run track and play football. –G
I would rebuild the bridge between my brothers and form a closer bond with them. –T
If I were going to give someone a gift, it would be hope. Hope that things will work out for the better, hope that society will realize the damage it is doing to itself and the next generation, hope that finances will straighten out or be taken care of in a timely fashion, hope that work will be there to provide, hope that family and friends are safe and healthy, and hope that love prevails above all else. –M
I'd give my husband the gift of having his dream fulfilled of being on Broadway. -B
I would give my two daughters the ability to permanently retain the uninterrupted feeling of love, comfort, security, and boundless imagination they are feeling this time of year for the duration of their entire lives, to help them navigate and overcome the inevitable rough patches that we all encounter in adulthood. –M
I would give the gift of tolerance with the ability to understand things greater than one's self. –K
I would give my parents a log cabin home on a lake in Tennessee. My parents are the most giving people and they have given up so much just to help other people. The log cabin has to be large and on a lot of land so they could continue helping people and animals. –J
I would give my cousin my heart because he has a hole in his. –K
I would give my grandma the best place to live for her final years with us. She deserves an amazing home with plenty of people to visit with and a comfortable room all to herself. She would have all of the luxuries she could want, friends to spend time with, her family near her to visit, and good food to eat. –J
I’d give my sister a time machine so that she could go back in time to relive and enjoy every moment that she can with her son. –C
Without a doubt for me I would give my mom life again. She did so much with the years that God gave her. She had strength, heart, kindness, happiness, and beauty but nothing I could ever imagine would make my life and all those I love better than having her here loving on them still. –C
I think I'd give my mom the gift of happiness. She's spent 40 years trying to please everyone else sacrificing her own happiness. So if I could, I'd pull away all that stress, remorse, and unhappiness and let her truly be at peace and happy. –S
I would give the gift of "financial freedom" to my husband. Basically, I wish that my husband did not have to work anymore because he "has to". He has worked his entire adult life so that my "dreams" could come true. He has worked horrible hours in a very high stress, high temperature, and dangerous atmosphere (physically and mentally). He has missed many Christmas mornings, Thanksgivings, Easters, Christmas programs, our children's school sports, normal family dinners, trips to Disney, family days to the museums, etc. He gave up "his" extra fun activities so we could have ours. So I think he is very deserving of the gift of financial freedom so he can live life with his family and not just work to make our dreams happen, but also to make his dreams happen. –E
I would give the gift of the "Do-Over"; the power to help someone right a past wrong. –N
I’d like to give my grandpa all the happiness in the world. He’s had the roughest year of his life, and I want nothing more than to be by his side this entire holiday season. –C
I would give someone a whole day free or stress or worries; at peace and content with the world. –D
I would give a new heart to my cousin who has Down's Syndrome and is experiencing chest pains and the weakening of her heart. I would do whatever it took to fix her heart, no matter the cost. I would love to see her live a long and healthy life. So... A perfect heart would be my gift. –C
Since I'm not big on "stuff" I'd have to say I wish I could give my mom confidence in herself. I honestly think that would be the most helpful gift I could give anyone. –K
There is this teenage girl I know who has had a rough go of it so far. She’s been abused, she has no stability in her life, and the people who should be teaching her and loving her aren’t. If I could, I would give her a better shot at life. –D
I would give perfect health to children living with cancer. -M
I would give my aunt a vacation to any place she wanted to go. She has been an incredible mother to my two wonderful cousins. When my wife and I took care of my ailing father, her brother, she was by our side to help every step of the way. And... She goes to my comedy shows every time I'm in town. She's truly deserving of a little time away. –D
If I could give one gift to one person, it would be to my friend's daughter. I would cure her daughter of Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a NASTY disease that people unable to walk, talk, or move around very well. She has seizures all the time, she needs a lot of medical attention, and most decisions about her are made by asking if she will survive the medicine, procedure, etc. Day to day, her mom does not know if the little girl will live. Imagine going to bed and not knowing if your child will survive the night? I can't. So, my one gift would be to restore this girl's health and make her a happy, healthy little girl. Forever after, let her go to a regular school, have lunch with her friends, go to a school dance, grow up, get married, give her mom grandkids! Yes, she is wonderful just as she is. She inspires so many and is the strongest person I personally know. But, how much better it would be for her to be healthy? -T
I would find the cure for cancer, go back in time and give it to my grandma so that she could still be with us today. –D
I would give my mom money and a vacation. She works so hard all the time to raise my niece, and be there for everyone in our family. She is the rock of our family, and also the main set of ears for our family. Everyone comes to her with problems, and she listens. The best thing about my mom is she NEVER complains. No matter what. For everything she does, she deserves money to do what she would want to do, and a vacation. And not at some all-inclusive beach resort or pampering, she would take a vacation that encompasses Chicago Blackhawks games, reading, walking on a beach, watching the stars, not cooking for herself, and being around family. -K
I'd give my brother a cure for cancer. -J
*Some people went beyond one person and gave their gift to multiple people, which I allowed because the answers were too good not to share.
If you want to add your gift ideas to the article feel free to email share@ideasinmotionmedia.com or leave a comment in the comments section located below.