Don’t panic! Because here are some gift-giving ideas centered around a theme—a simple premise. One that goes like this…
Rather than banking on an almost-impossible hope of satisfying that person-who-has-everything, why not think differently and do something that will benefit some other real-life person? A total stranger, perhaps. Or maybe a neighbour.
Here’s what I mean.
Gimme Shelter
Forget the necktie. Your old uncle Arthur—I’m willing to bet—has enough bloody ties. Instead of browsing in Menswear, head across the mall to where the supermarket is. Now fill the cart with fruit, veggies, non-perishables and, of course, a turkey and truck it all down to your local food shelter. Then give uncle Arty a card explaining that your great and good deed was offered up in his great and good name.
Or, if you want to go basic, just take the coin you were going to drop on a paisley bow-tie and donate it to a needy organization. Make sure the receipt’s in your uncle’s name, and give that to him—with a flowery thank-you on Christmas morn.
Homeless shelters, centres for the abused and, especially at this time a year, food banks need all the support you can muster. So go ahead. Eschew the tie; make the donation. I bet it’ll warm uncle Arthur’s heart much more  than you could have ever predicted. Besides, who wears ties nowadays?

Make it Personal
In a similar vein, there is almost definitely a family on your street, or in your kids’ school, that is down on their luck. You know what I mean right? There’s someone you know—or someone you know about—that lost their job, that’s recovering (or waiting for) surgery, or that’s suffered a hardship that couldn’t have come at a worse time of year.
Help them out. Buy toys for their children, or buy a turkey for their Christmas dinner, then gift-wrap it and deliver it to their door. Then tell that difficult person-who-has-everything, via a card, about the heartfelt gesture you performed in their name. That deed will make you feel good, will warm the hearts of a needy family and it should make the person-who-has-everything happy too. Talk about win-win-win.

Go Indie
Do you know how many independent writers there are? Tons, that’s how many, tons.
And, contrary to popular belief, many—if not most—are fine writers. Brilliant even. In the last few months alone, I’ve read works by Gregory Mose, Daniel Clausen and Leo Babauta. And I’ve enjoyed every page of their books.
For next year I’ve already teed-up books by indie writers like Alex Carrick, Frank E Mundo, Daniel Clausen (yes, him again, what can I say? I’m a big fan), Donna Carrick and Moriah Jovan.
Now here’s the thing. Writers—of all colours, of all stripes and of all corners of the world—love nothing more than to be read. That, of course, is why they write.
So go ahead. Buy a book by an Indie writer (any of the above is a good bet). With luck you might even be able to have it signed and addressed to uncle Arthur. If nothing else, you will have a compelling, first-person account to go along with that original gift.

Get Even More Indie Mood
You know that the word “indie” covers more than independent writers? Of course you know that.
You’ll find Indie artists in the performing arts, the visual arts and the recording arts. Here are just a few I’ve gotten to know, I’m getting to know or I’m hoping to know;  Mike Dickson,  Heike Matthiesen,  Peter Hum,  Trey Ratcliff,  Nancy Kenny, Christopher Davis.
So why not browse the web for your local art scene? Or, (if you trust my taste) seek out one of the aforementioned artists and buy a ticket to their show, buy their CD or one of their prints, buy a music or art lesson, or just arrange for a photo shoot. Think of it. You’ll be helping out an independent artist and you will, almost definitely, have the most original gift under the tree.

There you have it, just a few suggestions for a Christmas gift that goes further than just being given. It’s a gift that will make someone’s day. I guarantee it.

How about you? Do you have a gift idea that, in addition to benefiting the recipient, also helps out someone else? Let me know by leaving a comment.

You know how it goes, uh?

You come across someone online (in this case it’s goodreads.com).

You find out, guy’s written a book (yeah, who hasn’t?)

So, you check things out, you sniff the dog tags—suss out whether the dude’s gonna be worth the effort.

All this sound crass to you?

Well sorry, but, last time I checked, time still wasn’t a renewable resource.

So anyway…

I did all that.

And also found out—sample chapters are right there, on his website.

Waiting to be read.

So I do it. Read the first chapter.

Maybe it’s my imagination,

Maybe it’s not.

Maybe it’s the style, the language—the attitude.

Don’t know what it is,

But the chapter’s eerily evocative—not similar, mind you. Not identifiable, or anywhere near that.

It’s just…

The writing reminds me of something,

Like someone I read before.

Shit, look, I’ll come right out and say it.

That chapter—the way it’s written, reminds me, sort of, in a funny kinda way—of my writing.

Then again,

Like I said;

Probably my imagination.

Anyway, I buy the book—download it.

I’m hooked and read it in no time flat.

The thing’s well put together, it’s got it all,

Innovative plot.

Strong dialog.

Compelling characters.

Turns out, in case you’re skeptical, the reason I love this book is not because the writing’s similar to mine. Turns out, in fact, it’s not like mine at all—it was, really, just my imagination. Turns out, though, one of the  reasons I loved the book is that it’s got a hook that’ll snag a whale.  All of which, is to say that…

Hell, this guy’s pretty good.

His name’s Gregory Mose.

He’s cool too.

Runs gites in France (yeah, I know, I had to look it up too).

Listen, do me a favour.

Buy his book. Stunt Road.

You’ll find it on amazon.com

Or, do like me,

And get it at  smashwords

It’s only 4 bucks, for chrissake.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

And I just found more…

Much of this site is devoted to helping readers realize they can get whatever they want.

Success. Happiness. Reward. Achievement.

Whatever you want.

It’s there—waiting for you.

But some of us don’t believe it can happen—to us.

Some of us believe dreams only come true—to other people.

And, some of us need proof.

For those needing proof, for those unable to believe it’s true.

There is, indeed, evidence.

Some already on this site.

And, now, I got more.

I’m reading this book, The Brain That Changes Itself…

Allow me to quote from the back cover,

“(The book introduces) principles we can all use, as well as a riveting collection of histories—stroke patients cured, a woman with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, learning and emotional disorders overcome, IQs raised and aging brains rejuvenated.”

And that’s just the back cover…

You know,

One of my favourite expressions is, “What if? Anything is possible.”

And this book is but another example, reinforcing that,

Much of what was once thought impossible, is now known to be, very much, possible.

Do you have a goal? A desire? A dream?

Do you view it as something that’s possible? Or impossible?

Before answering, just think,

If it’s possible for the brain to change itself, then what else is possible?

So,

If you have a dream,

Go for it.

Go for the big one.

Because, maybe, just maybe, anything is possible.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

The reach, scope and influence of social media (and social media practitioners) is proving itself, once again.

And I’m loving it.

I’m loving that one person can take an idea, a platform, a mission,

And take it global.

This time it’s author Catherine McKenzie at the helm.

Catherine is using social media to connect with book-lovers the world over, in order to (get this)…

Not only promote books, but to launch them into bestseller territory.

That’s right, Catherine’s mission is to point out there are too many books—great books, fantastic books—going unnoticed.

And through determination, and the sway of socials media, she wants to make those books bestsellers.

What spirit!

What spunk!

What an idea!

I love it it, and I’m supporting Catherine’s quest.

I want you to support it too.

How?

By joining this Facebook and/or Goodreads group.

So come on, join the party, and give some truly worthy books an audience.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

I was fourteen when I read The Catcher in the Rye.

That book led me to his other works.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: an Introduction,

Nine Stories, and, my favourite, Franny and Zooey.

I believe it was the Glasses that did it.

Seymour, Buddy,  BooBoo and, of course, Franny and Zooey Glass.

The Glass family was New York chic and Hollywood hip.

They were intelligent, amusing, somewhat bohemian, and sometimes dangerous.

They were sophisticates, upper-crust-ish and as odd as a three-dollar bill.

I loved them all.

I remember, at that young age, wishing they were my family.

Successful and bizarre.

Entertaining and spooky.

And, even though, I haven’t heard from them in—I guess—decades, I’ll miss each of of them.

As well the brilliant author who unleashed them—to trample and wander, haphazard, through my imagination.

J.D. Salinger.

The first author I ever idolized,

Thank you and rest in peace.

Today, especially, is a perfect day for bananafish.