This Holiday, Give Something That Truly Lasts

“Think about us instead of me. If you do, amazing things will happen.”
- Bill Harris

Issue #507 – Monday, December 22, 2025

Well, it’s finally here - the biggest holiday week of the year!

For me and my family, that means Christmas. 

Growing up, I was always so excited for Christmas. I loved the old claymation movies, the songs, the stories, the sweets, the break from school. And of course, the gifts.

Christmas was the one time a year when I could ask my parents for that video game, that bike, or the walkman that I wanted (and they did their best to put it under the tree).

But now that I’m an adult with a job and family of my own, the “gifting” part of Christmas has changed for me. And after I read this week’s Mind Power essay, it suddenly clicked as to why.

So today I’m sharing a special essay from Centerpointe CEO MaryEllen Tribby about how giving a gift has become her favorite part of the season.

MaryEllen shares what truly makes a gift special, and some ideas on how you can give a gift that means much more this year.

And from all of us at Centerpointe, we hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Enjoy,

MaryEllen Tribby
Centerpointe CEO

P.S.

We had a blast last week at our Virtual Holiday Party where we celebrated the season, shared a special gift to the whole community, and revealed a special sneak peek at our upcoming CRI-600 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones!

The Older I Get, the More I Love Giving

By MaryEllen Tribby

The older I get, the more I fall in love with giving.

Not the frantic, last-minute, credit-card-swiping kind of giving. But the kind that comes from paying attention. The kind that says, I see you. I know you. I thought about you.

For the past twenty years or so, I honestly haven’t needed anything for Christmas. That’s not said with bravado or virtue, it’s simply the truth. When you reach a certain stage in life, the accumulation of “stuff” loses its shine. Drawers are full. Closets are full. And what you really treasure can’t be wrapped in shiny paper anyway.

What has grown, though, is the joy I feel in choosing gifts for other people.

I’ve become very intentional about it. I think carefully. I listen. I notice. And I ask myself one simple question:

Will this emotionally resonate with them?

Because the truth is, giving really is better than receiving.

There is something profoundly nourishing about watching someone’s face light up when they feel truly understood. Neuroscience even backs this up; acts of giving activate reward centers in the brain, releasing oxytocin and dopamine. In other words, generosity literally makes us feel better. It calms the nervous system. It opens the heart. It reminds us that we are connected.

And perhaps that’s why giving feels richer to me now than receiving ever did.

Over the years, my favorite gifts haven’t come from a store at all. They came from my children, long before they had money, credit cards, or even an understanding of “gift value” as the world defines it.

Connor, for example, painted me a picture for Mother’s Day when he was in fifth grade.

He knew something important about me. He knew I was fascinated with monkeys and apes. He knew how much I loved the old Planet of the Apes movies. He didn’t stumble into that knowledge by accident, he paid attention. He listened. He cared.

That painting has been hanging in my bedroom ever since.

For fifteen years, I have looked at that picture every single day. It has brought me joy every single day. Not because it’s a “perfect” painting, but because it is perfect to me. It is love, thoughtfulness and connection, captured on paper by a child who knew his mom.

Then there’s Delanie.

When she was five years old, she knew one thing for certain: her mom loved to read.

So for Christmas, she made me a bookmark. On it, she wrote, “I love my mom,” and she decorated it with flowers and butterflies. I still use that bookmark today. And every single time I open a book and see it, I smile.

That gift has traveled with me through countless chapters, both literal and metaphorical.

And Mikaela, one of my most treasured gifts from her is a poem she wrote for me. I keep it pinned to my cork board. It’s not framed in gold. It’s not laminated. It doesn’t need to be. It lives where I can see it, feel it  and remember the moment it was given.

These gifts didn’t cost money.

But they cost something far more valuable: attention, presence and love.

And the most beautiful part? I could see this way of giving rub off on my kids from a very early age. They learned, instinctively, that the best gifts come from the heart, not the wallet.

That’s a lesson our world desperately needs right now.

So many people feel stressed during the holidays. Stressed about money. Stressed about measuring up. Stressed about whether their gift is “enough.” But what if we released ourselves from that pressure this year?

What if, instead of asking, How much should I spend? we asked, How deeply can I connect?

Because a gift that resonates emotionally doesn’t get tossed in a drawer. It doesn’t get forgotten by February. It lives on in someone’s home, and more importantly, in their heart.

And sometimes, the most powerful gifts aren’t physical at all.

If you know someone who is struggling, emotionally, mentally, or simply feeling overwhelmed, one of the greatest gifts you can give is support for their inner world. Peace of mind. Calm. A moment to breathe.

That’s why I often suggest sharing Holosync.

Holosync changed my life. It has helped millions of people around the world reduce stress, release emotional pain, sleep better, and feel more like themselves again. And the beautiful thing is - you don’t even have to spend a dime.

We offer many free programs that you can lovingly share with someone you care about, including our 5-Day Challenge. It’s a gentle, welcoming introduction to deep relaxation and inner calm. For someone who is stressed, anxious, grieving, or simply exhausted, this can be a truly life-changing gift.

Sometimes the greatest present you can give someone is the ability to feel better in their own mind.

Thoughtful, Inexpensive Gift Ideas

Here are some more meaningful gift ideas that don’t require a big budget:

• A framed handwritten note or letter expressing what someone means to you

• A favorite book with a personal inscription inside the cover

• A photo printed and framed with a short memory written on the back

• A playlist curated just for them, with an explanation of why each song was chosen

• A favorite quote or affirmation printed and framed

• A small plant or herb with a note about growth, care, and patience

• A candle with a handwritten message about warmth, peace, or comfort

Five Gifts You Can Make (That People Truly Treasure)

1. Handmade potholders or dish towels
   Simple, useful & deeply personal, especially when made in colors you know they love.

2. A memory jar
   Fill a jar with handwritten memories, affirmations or reasons you appreciate them.

3. A recipe card collection
   Write out family recipes or favorite meals with notes about when and why they matter.

4. A custom bookmark
   Especially meaningful for readers, add a message, a drawing, or a favorite quote.

5. A handwritten poem or letter
   You don’t have to be a poet. You just have to be honest.

These are the kinds of gifts people keep. The kinds they pull out years later. The kinds that quietly say, You mattered enough for me to slow down and think.

And that’s the magic of giving.

Because when we give from the heart, we don’t lose anything, we expand. We feel more alive. More connected. More human.

This Christmas, don’t worry about the price tag. Incorporate the heart tag.

Give something that lasts.

Check It Out!

Virtual Holiday Party REPLAY

We had such a blast at our Virtual Holiday Party! Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable experience.

If you couldn’t make the live event, you can still watch all the fun and festivities, including:

• A special coaching session about stress during the holiday season

• We announce the winners of the wonderful prizes we’re giving away

• A special gift for everyone (you can download from the replay page)

• A very exciting sneak peek at our upcoming CRI-600s & an opportunity to pre-order at a discount

We have the best community in the world and we appreciate you so much!

Wise Words

“Sometimes the greatest present you can give someone is the ability to feel better in their own mind.”
- MaryEllen Tribby

This Really Happened

Holosync has changed my life. I am so thankful I found it and gave it a try.

~Dani W.
MyHolosync App User

Follow this link to download the MyHolosync app for free & claim a 7-day trial of MyHolosync Premium (no credit card required)

We Want to Hear From You!

What is the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?

Post your story on our Facebook Page.

Not on Facebook? Tell me about the impact that meditation with Holosync has had on your daily life. Stress? Sleep? Weight Loss? Focus? Spiritual Connection? Other?

Email your story here:

Pay It Forward:

Your story may profoundly affect the life of a person you never meet,
but who will be forever grateful.