Making the Holidays (again)
Enjoy the season - by creating!
One of the greatest joys this time of year is giving gifts to those we love. And there’s no better way to show you care than to make those gifts by hand. Give it a try - and make the holiday magic happen. ~JRC
Making the Holidays
Creating is a special part of the season
First published on December 14th, 2020 as a subscriber-only story.
Our species is defined by how we manipulate our environment. In taking raw materials - be it wheat, wood, or words - and morphing these into something new, humans exercise all that it means to be us. This powerful ability is not unique to the world's artists and artisans, though. We all create. And what we each make has value, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. That's why during the holidays when we strive to be more caring towards one another, giving handmade gifts is one of the best things we can do.
I recently came across someone's "Maker Movement Manifesto" and found it very inspiring. The author listed nine objectives: Make, Tool Up, Play, Participate, Support, Change, Learn - and most relevant here - Share and Give.
Giving away what we toiled over is an act of true generosity. More than that, it's an expression of love that fulfills both the giver and receiver. It feels darn good to make things - and even better to give them away.
This time last year, I was busy finishing up an elaborate gift for my son. I had just resigned from my job and had the time to invest in something big. My next career steps were still unclear, but I knew in my heart of hearts that I wanted to make. So I jumped in and started to create.
It was one of the most transformative experiences of my life.
What I made was a diorama play set depicting Jabba the Hutt's Palace from Star Wars. I built it to scale for the 3 3/4" action figures. You can read a description of it and see pics on my website. And it is the subject of one of my YouTube videos. The final result was satisfying; I was proud of what I could do. But my son’s expression on Christmas morning last year was the best part of all.
He was proud of me. As much as the gift meant to him, his admiration meant even more to me. It was a reminder that what we do matters to others. It also illustrates well that children are watching us - we must do right by them, always.
Making things for others is generous, but it's not altogether altruistic. Often, the maker gets more out of it than the receiver ever will. But therein lies the remarkable fact of making gifts - one can be generous and self-serving in one beautiful act.
I can't think of any other endeavor that so completely encapsulates the human condition.
My parents were big on making for Christmas. Pop's ritual was to turn wood in his shop. The "annual bowl" he would create always had warmth and character that made us all pause and admire. And the smells of seasonal meals were how Mom expressed the season. That and an expertly decorated home. Incidentally, she is perhaps the best gift wrapper I've ever known. A well-wrapped present is an act of making too.
No matter how small - making creates memorable gifts.
Today, my son and I are building a few gifts in the lab. Making together, father and son, adds yet another layer of wonder to it all. It's an exciting time, sharing wisdom and watching as he grasps and masters new skills. The joy of creating, and the expectation of giving, sparkle in his eyes as we work.
I hope you take the time this season and express your inner maker. You might not have Adam Savage’s workshop or Rachael Ray’s kitchen, but you don't need these to create for others. A simple hand-made card will suffice. Heck, even a well-crafted email can be a generous gift. It really is the thought that counts.
So put some thought into making something for someone else. Whoever you give it to will thank you. And you will thank yourself for being a little more human. That's the power of giving away things we make. It brings out humanity in all of us.
Until next time.
JRC