Today is the last day of business, before we are officially closed at 6:00 pm, until we re-open in Oakwood Plaza on Tuesday, September 17th. In the meantime, we hope that you're pulling your holiday lists together and getting excited about joining us on our Stress-Free Holiday Challenge. We've had so much positive feedback regarding our goal to get all of our holiday shopping done by October 31st, so that we can truly enjoy and be present for the upcoming holiday season. In fact, we'd love to hear who's joining us in the Challenge -- give us a shout out on Facebook, let us know who you're doing the Challenge with by tagging them, and tell us what you're most looking forward to in getting your holiday shopping all taken care of!
Today is the last day of business before we are officially closed at 6:00 pm, until we re-open in Oakwood Plaza on Tuesday, September 17th.
Today is the last day of business before we are officially closed at 6:00 pm, until we re-open in Oakwood Plaza on Tuesday, September 17th.
Before we begin our endeavor, I wanted to take a moment to share something personal with you about the true goal behind this Challenge.
Every year, throughout the year, and especially at the holidays, Meme and I continually hear about how everyone already has so much stuff. We could not agree with this sentiment more. Our goal in this Challenge is not to just buy stuff to get it done. Rather, it's allowing the space and the time (before things get so crazy during the holidays) to find something that is perfect, and to be able to thoroughly enjoy the experience of giving.
I'm a firm believer that gift giving is an art and a social grace, much like the art of receiving something graciously, or thanking someone genuinely. I see it as an unwritten ritual to be taught and passed down, much like etiquette. I can't wait to take Alice shopping for birthday gifts -- not her own (well, those too!), but for her friends, when they get old enough to invite her to their birthday parties. I'm so looking forward to teaching her the ritual of taking the time to pick out something special, just for that person, as a way to honor them. I'm looking forward to seeing how she interprets the idea of choosing something that the recipient will love, and that she will love giving to that person just as much.
So, I think it's important to take care, in our efforts to simplify, de-clutter, and avoid "the stuff", that we don't throw the baby out with the bath water and lose sight of some of the deeper values of a tradition such as gifting. Gift giving can be magical. When done well, it strengthens ties and creates connections, memories and experiences. When done well, it is definitely not about stuff.
Our goal at Initial Attraction is never to contribute to "the stuff", but rather to provide you with unique items that you don't see elsewhere in Kalamazoo to surprise and delight you and the person to whom you may be giving. We want gift giving to be fun again, not just a go-through-the-motions, cross-that-person-off-the-list purchase. We want to elevate gift giving to an art again, not a chore.
Our Stress-Free Holiday Challenge is an attempt to accomplish all of the above and be able to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. Because what's better than having the time and opportunity to find that perfect gift? Being fully present to enjoy the gift of giving. We truly hope you'll join us.
