When I was young, I, like many other children, agonized and racked my brain about what to get my parents for their birthdays and Christmas.

It seemed like my parents had everything they wanted, or could get anything they wanted (within reason). Or, maybe they just didn’t seem to want anything.

So me, my brothers, and my sister, would try and come up with ideas before we finally came up with something that ended up not being as exciting as we had hoped.

Now that I’m an adult, and on the other side of the equation, I can see the problem. There’s nothing I want.

If I see a book or CD or something, I just go buy it. I don’t really let things I want pile up on a list somewhere. I just go get it.

As I started thinking about what people who’ve been asking me can get me, I think I finally figured it out.

The thing I don’t get enough of, but could always use more of, is perspective.

It would be great to receive a note from someone telling me what I’ve meant to them and where I fit into the museum of their life.

I try and give that to people close to me, and I think that sort of acknowledgement would be the best gift of all.