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It was December 25th, years ago, when I had my big epiphany. All eyes were on me. As always, I waited to open my gifts until the very end, only so I can soak up watching everyone open theirs.
I always spend a lot of time and care picking out the perfect gift for my family and friends.
So naturally, I was curious what was picked out for me.
Ooh…a purse?
My imagination went wild.
Maybe that cashmere sweater I’ve been wanting?
And, seriously, this year the package was huge.
It’s that Moncler coat!
I slowly unwrapped the package with childlike anticipation. Finally, I got to the contents of the box. I was confused.
Huh?
I tried to act all happy and excited, despite the fact that I was heartbroken.
What the hell arethese things?
Oh, I did receive a pair of shoes.….. but not Jimmy Choos.
In the box were these huge things that looked like something worn by Cyclops.
“Oh, they’re so cute!” I said with my best fake smile plastered across my face.
What are they?
“Honey, they’re snowshoes,” he said with excitement.
I was not excited!
I was new to the Colorado scene.
In the South, we don’t see such contraptions.
“Awww…how sweet, darling!” I replied in a true Southern way.
The fake smile morphed into my awkward even more fake giggle.
And, my eyes started to well up a bit.
And, no, they were not tears of joy.
Blink eyes, blink!
Hold back the tears.
Now, look away from him.
Look busy.
Pretend to pick up wrapping paper on the ground.
Keep your head down.
Do not make eye contact.
I repeat – Do NOT make eye contact.
There is nothing wrong with snowshoes.
Now, let me be clear: I’ve used them, and they are fun.
However, I felt this tremendous sadness welling up inside of me while I stared at the huge thingamajigs.
The pity party had officially started.
I put so much effort into finding the perfect gifts for everyone.
I think about what they love and what will bring them the most joy.
Every. Single. Year.
It brings me so much joy to see them smile a real smile.
And, what did I get?
Snowshoes!
Where was my Chanel bag? Trip to the English countryside? String of rare pearls?
I was spiraling into my self-made sorry, all because of a pair of snowshoes, a gift that would bring many women so much pleasure. But not for Madame Tonya. So many emotions came flooding in and took over my mind and body
I felt deep envy towards the women who received gifts from their loved ones that matched their refined tastes.
I felt deep resentment because no one one seemed to care about me.
I felt mad at myself feeling duped with how much time and energy I give to everyone else.
And, worst of all……
I felt very justified.
Snowshoes?
He should know what I want.
They should think more about my gifts.
I do so much for them.
Why is everyone else so lucky and loved?
(Isn’t it fascinating how we’ll fight for our own misery?)
Then it dawned on me.
If I want something, I needed to stop waiting for Santa.
(I mean, c’mon! He stopped coming to visit me about three decades ago.)
I was waiting on something outside of myself to give me what I wanted.
(This is the exact thing that I advise my clients not to do)
Yep. That Christmas brought out my inner princess — full of pity, resentment and envy. When my pity party was finally over, I decided to put my crown back on my head and act like a Queen.
It was time to get to work.
I stopped waiting for Santa.
Two extremely valuable lessons were presented to me that Christmas:
Lesson #1 — Be grateful for whatever you receive.
Lesson #2 — Don’t wait. Give yourself what you want!
As for lesson #1: I needed to go deeper than just having gratitude. I also needed to stop expecting others to fulfill my every wish.
On lesson #2: After that incident had passed (when “I’d stopped the internal hissy fit” as my mother calls it), I sat down and made a list of my “wants” — everything from a massage to a tropical vacation.
Since that day, I’ve given myself an array of things.
The list includes:
- Monthly massages at the local spa.
- A new Canon camera.
- Weekly flowers from the Farmers Market.
- A Givenchy bag I swore that only a Kardashian could pull off.
- Whisking off to Paris, Mexico, South of France, Italy.
- Treating my parents to a trip to Costa Rica with me and my daughter.
- Nights out to dinner with my girlfriends.
- New La Perla lingerie.
- A Magnum of Dom.
- Weekends with girlfriends.
- Guilt free time alone. With no plans. No kids. And a glass of vino.
- That little antique brooch that I couldn’t stop thinking about…. the little adornment that my man would blow a gasket if he knew how much I paid!
…And my list includes some other things that are in my 2016 Holiday Self Gift Guide
This only happened because I stopped waiting for someone to give to me what I wanted and created it for myself.
It’s not your husband, children, friends or anyone’s job to give you what you want.
That’s all on you.
Sure, you can ask for it, but don’t expect it! And, certainly don’t depend on it.
When it happens, consider it icing on your already beautifully decorated cake.
If you want better relationships and a sense of self-pride, stop expecting others to give to you what you can give to yourself (which is basically everything you want).
Now, let me be very clear:
I am not a “man-hater.”
(I adore men)
Nor am I a “Loud Liberated Woman.”
(I am strong, but I don’t feel like I need to go around shouting about my independence).
Au contraire.
I am all for a man opening my door and buying me gifts.
I love being a lady.
I love receiving.
However…
Sometimes you must stop waiting for a miracle (or a man) and be your own miracle! {tweet this}
I’ve become the kind of woman who works to provide for my own needs. And, let me assure you: nothing will bring you greater joy than knowing you can depend on yourself.
Another beautiful results is this: I appreciate every experience and gift I receive (even a pair of snowshoes!).
These women stopped waiting for Santa, too.
One of my clients always had a strong desire to take a trip to Paris. She waited for years for her husband to take her. She begged, pleaded, offered sex (note to reader: my hand is raised, as I can definitely relate to this!).
And, after over a decade, still no trip to Paris.
“How’s that working for you?” I asked.
“Obviously, not that well,” she admitted.
She stopped waiting and booked her own ticket to Paris
Not only did she have the time of her life in Paris, her relationship with hubby also was better. And yes, in the bedroom, they returned to passionate love. It was no longer fueled by manipulation.
Another client of mine was so smitten snipping magazines and adding pins to her pinterest board because she wanted to remodel her kitchen. She was waiting for her hubby to break out his tool belt and get to work. And she waited. And waited.
“How long are you planning to wait?” I asked.
“Looks like a lifetime if I’m depending on him to do it,” she replied.
She stopped waiting and created a plan, followed through on it, and had her dream kitchen within the year.
Don’t wait for Santa when
you have your own army of elves
{Tweet this}
What do you want? Here’s how you can get it:
Your plan must start with your mind, because if you don’t believe you can, you won’t.
Stop what you’re thinking about right now, and focus – I believe that you’re reading this for a reason.
Here’s what you can do, right now:
1. Think about it.
A lot of women haven’t even considered what they want for years, so it’s a muscle you must start building.
Want some beautiful inspiration?
2. Write it down.
Put that gorgeous journal you’ve set aside and have been dying to use for a special occasion to good use (finally!)
3. Then, make a plan to create it!
A simple first step is to surround yourself with women who will support you. Ones who share your dreams and desires.
If you stay inspired, and if you stoke that fire in your belly, I can guarantee that you will blow your own mind. Decide right now that you are going to French Kiss this New Year with all your heart, mind and soul. In the words of Hafiz:
When I am lying on my deathbed Is that I did not kiss you enough”.
Thank you for being a part of the French Kiss Life community.
We’ve co-created a magical place that transcends the noise of today’s world. Like a great song that enraptures you or that night out you’ll never forget. It’s where women come to be inspired. Our community and this lifestyle is about passion, inspiration, beauty, boldness, and elegance. It’s about love, joy & excitement. To all of us, it feels like home — the home that we never knew existed; until we landed here.
There are no words to tell you how much you mean to me. And I know from all of the posts on social media and the emails we receive, and when we gather together in person, it is so clear how much we all mean to each other.
Oh, and one more thing….
If you want to give me something for the holidays, I’d be so grateful if you’d share this blog post with this holiday gift guide with your girlfriends.
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Sometimes I forget……. that all you have to do to create….. is to ask!
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Hi Tonya,
I feel like this was written just for me!
Only yesterday, I received a Christmas gift from my husband (it's early this year, as he is spending the Holidays with his elderly parents). My husband is many beautiful things, one being that he is a very practical guy. Works wonders when working around the house and garden, not so much when gifting. So, my present this year? A kettle, and a toaster. I kid you not. Albeit, a beautiful high-quality copper kettle and toaster, but nonetheless...
Lucky, I come prepared (after years of 'internal self-combusting' - thank you Tonya's Mum for such an apt expression:-)). I know that he cares, and when gifting, he always considers things from all angles - it is just that his angles are very different from mine. So, I always save some money just for me, and treat myself. That way, everyone is happy. 🙂
Merry Christmas Tonya - may your year be blessed with a thousand joys!
Marija
Thanks for sharing your experience Marija! I think most men are practical gift givers, and I do think they give from their hearts. It's just they think very differently from us females.
I'm so happy you're treating yourself.
Happy Holidays!
xo,
T
Dearest Tonya, Thank YOU sooooo much for everything that you have shared and done.
I have learnt so much from you. You are an amazing, inspiring, beautiful woman.
THANK YOU. I am so blessed to have found you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
May your life be continually be filled with endless miracles.
Awww Karen, thank you!
It is my pleasure.
Happy Holidays to you!
xoxo,
Tonya
Hi Tonya
After thrashing about in the water for 5 years confiding in my beautiful friends and listening intently to what I should be aiming for and what I should expect of a man I have just learnt that I should nt expect anything except what he wants to give and the rest is up to me. I have a man who I love with all my heart and who I know loves me and have wasted 3 years demanding some form of commitment which has done exactly the opposite . Meanwhile I have deprived myself of many special times with this guy and even though I have had my independence it was not a happy independence as I was busy obsessing over what he should be doing for me or what today's society expected him to do . I realise now that if I throw the fishing line out into the depths of the ocean and be happy being me he will swim back of his own accord . I just hope I m not too late to put my plan into action but if I am it's a valuable lesson learnt and that is to always follow my own instincts ,keep my cards closer to my chest (then people won't feel it necessary to give you their opinion )and follow my own path to my destiny and be happy doing it
Your witty quirky blogs have helped me to see the light and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart
Love and Happy Christmas Wishes
Bev
Bev,
What a great awakening. I, too, have played this game and it's exhausting.
Everyone has an opinion and the only one that matters is your own.
Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Tonya
(P.S. I love that you think my blog is quirky, as I'm a bit quirky!)
Tonya you are Amazing!The guide is so positive and inspiring. I am going to create my own wish list now!Happy Holidays!Take care!
Thank you Nadia!
Have fun with that wishlist.
xoxo,
Tonya
Tonya, your blog is the rare one in which I read every single post and I've even read some of your articles several times. Each piece is so deep, rich, and sooo worth the time to savor.
Wonderful post, and the self gift guide is awesome. Thank you for being so generous with the wisdom!
Hi Tonya,
I really appreciate you. It was miracle that I found you when I needed the support and motivation. Wishing you Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Looking forward FKLin 2017
Priti,
Thank you, m'friend!
I'm glad you stumbled into my world as well.
It's truly an honor!
xoxo,
Tonya
Sophie,
That means so much! Thank you.
I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the gift guide.
Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Tonya
Your story brought tears to me eyes, but not ones of laughter!! I have received over the years so many gifts that hurt my feelings deeply. It always amazes me how someone I live with can be so out of touch with who I am! Thank you for this post.....it's nice to know I'm not alone.
Hi Sheri,
No, you're not alone! And, I also know that no one can hurt my feelings. It's always the thoughts in my mind that hurt my feelings.
I didn't want to believe that at first, and then I discovered the sweet freedom that came from embracing that fact.
Sending you lots of love and Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Tonya
Merci, merci, Tonya!! What a beautiful post! I am creating my list with so much joy in my heart! I needed to be reminded that it's up to me to create what I want and desire in my life!!
Hey Lady!
Can't wait to see what you put on your wishlist!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Tonya
Hi Tonya
Thank you for this timely post, you are an inspiration to many. I love your candour and sincerity in response to each comment. Have a wonderful festive season.
Thank you Noreen!
Have a fabulous holiday season.
See you in 2017!
xo,
Tonya
Thank you for this article!
I am this woman who gets very upset. Especially since my birthday is just a few days before Christmas too. I thought I was the only one. I thought something was wrong with me & I felt really horrible putting my husband through this.
Reading this article & all the comments has really enlightened me. So thank you! Thank you thank you for waking me up & showing me this path!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Have fun & stay safe xoxo
Hi Aleesha!
You are most welcome!
Something grand happens within a woman when she decides to fulfill her own needs.
Sending you love and Happy Birthday!
xoxo,
T
I was wondering if you were going to let us know what your word will be for the coming 2017 year?