What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

My plane ticket to travel from New York to Oregon.

Besides that, small gifts my true friends given me out of pure kindness.

Any gift from family came with conditions. So when getting something from my friends “just because” at first felt weird and uncomfortable, since I was very suspicious that they had ulterior motives. But when I came to accept my friends’ gifts were out of kindness and nothing more, it gave me the most happiest feeling I ever felt in my life.

The gifts my friends gave me are my treasures. It makes it even more special when the fact that their gifts showcase exactly what I like without me saying anything. For example, unless I verbally tell my family that I want something they would give me generic gifts growing up, or something so I didn’t feel left out.

I still treasure the memory of when family gifted me my first Gameboy Advance SP, even though my niece got the first ever DS. I didn’t much care about that part. I was just too happy my parents actually gave me something that truly wanted. Didn’t care for the games, but I no longer had to pester my cousins to allow me to play their GameCube. That GBA was my first ever gaming system that I owned.

I also appreciate when my high school ex gifted me is original PS3 (he bought a new one and knew I like gaming). I always appreciated the few gifts I gotten from family that weren’t Barbie related, when I was a kid. Because those non-Barbie gifts felt like I was actually considered. But those small moments of happiness are tainted with how my family used those same gifts against me.

Because of my experience was why when friends and exs gave me gifts I didn’t know how to accept them. I still don’t know how to accepted gifts or ask for anything. But I’m learning in recent years (with healing and therapy) I allow myself to feel happy when friends give me gifts. I don’t care how much it cost, because I appreciate the effort and thought that went into the gift.

The best way I can describe this feeling that I been receiving is pure gratitude. I feel like someone truly thought of me, instead of trying to get something out of me. I still feel confused about how my friends that have given me gifts expect nothing back, even when I tried to repay the gesture. I’m grateful that they don’t make me feel like a burden, which makes the gifts even more special.