Gift It!

By Smiles R Contagious #LearnedMan

We often think of “gifts” as something wrapped in a bow, purchased from a store, or measured by a price tag. But the greatest gifts we carry are both tangible and intangible—the ones we can share freely without cost: our presence, our kindness, our smile, and most importantly, our time.

Time is the ultimate gift.

Think about it: the time it takes to send a text, make a call, show up for a visit, or offer a simple smile—those moments carry more weight than money ever could. They remind us that we matter to each other. They prove that even the smallest gestures can be the most valuable treasures.

Recently, I celebrated a birthday, and two things stood out in my spirit. Both came from Whitney Houston: “The Greatest Love of All” and “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” Why reference those songs? Because they teach and remind us about what truly matters:

• The time it takes to learn and equip yourself with self-love and resilience.

• The time it takes to recognize your strength when life tests you.

• The time it takes to value every single moment as the gift it is.

I often quote: “We die once, but we live every day.” That means every day is another opportunity to use what we’ve been given. To gift our kindness. To gift our encouragement. To gift our authentic presence.

And here’s the truth: you can’t take money or material things with you. But you can leave behind the imprint of how you gave your time, how you loved, and how you showed kindness. That’s the legacy.

So I leave you with this: Gift it!

Gift your time. Gift your joy. Gift your kindness. Gift yourself—fully and freely. Because those are the treasures that live on forever.