Take five minutes to list out the most memorable gifts you have ever received–good and bad, tangible or not, for a special occasion or not. Circle the one ‘best’ gift and the one ‘worst’ gift and follow these instructions:
Set a ten- to twenty-minute timer and write about the best memorable gift you ever received. What made it so special? What made it so meaningful? Why do you remember it so well? If it was a physical object, describe it in minute detail. If the person who gave it to you was important, describe him or what he means to you.
Next set another timer and write about the worst memorable gift you ever received. What made it so terrible and memorable? If it was a physical object, describe it in detail. Describe the person who gave it to you and how you felt about him and his gift.
One of the reasons gifts are so interesting is that they come pre-loaded with meaning and emotional baggage. Consider working a gift into your next story somehow.
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