Birthdays and presents

Every year most of us have to get a new calender and write all our friends' birthdays and hope not to forget any. When the time comes, if we didn't forget about it, our minds just get filled with questions about the right present to give, what to do to make it special, book a dinner with friends? or simple go out? (my birthday is long gone, so don't get any crazy ideas about it) bla bla bla. That is why some people just don't fancy birthdays that much and think they are a silly excuse for others to get presents. Of course, every day should be a celebration, but the problem is that not every day is. So, birthdays, mother's day, father's day, valentine's day, and so on, are just a small break from the daily stress that reminds us to take life easy and enjoy it (although, all except for the birthdays are just commercial strategies). Back to the presents' issue, it is very tricky to buy the right thing to the right person, but it is all about knowing the other person. Otherwise, a postcard and some chocolates/flowers would be enough. Some people like expensive, some like practical, some like creative and some just like to take the day off. My advice is: if you know the person well, then don't buy something just to have something to give. Make the effort of taking the next step and reinventing the concept of presents; fold a piece of paper, draw on it and simply write what comes to your mind inside; go to the beach and draw a cake on the sand; be different. Everybody loves presents, that is a sure thing, but things that come from the heart instead of a shop are so much better and so much valuable! Even if you think you should buy something, because that person needs it, just try to make it different from what anyone else could have done. So, today -mother's day here in Portugal- I just made my mother a breakfast in bed. I did one for my father as well (he deserves it too for taking care of her for so long) and found out that it was his first breakfast in bed!!! Write your comments and let me know what you did for your mother today and what was your most creative gift so far :)