The returned gift

When you gift something to people, don’t give them what you would like to give…give them what they would like to get.                    

………………

I discretely remember that evening when many of us got together to celebrate birthday of an elderly relative. We all had given the occasion our own interpretation, and thus there was decoration, music, cake, gifts etc. In fact, it turned out to be quite a get-together.

The old man also looked pretty pleased. And amid all the activity, every now and then, he would begin talking about something from the past, only to be interrupted by more activity or some new topic. It happened repeatedly, though no one seemed to register it.

Finally, somewhere late in the evening, as the party took its own momentum independent of the occasion, he excused himself and went to his room.

………………

Well! That evening, as I saw him sitting alone in his room, cleaning his glasses, I was wondering how none of us could understand that…to be happy, he did not need gifts…

…All he needed was to know that…‘we all also remembered what he still remembered’.

About Sandeep Atre

Dr. Sandeep Atre: • Counseling Psychologist and an internationally recognized ‘Emotional & Social Intelligence’ Expert, with experience of more than two decades in helping people ‘sort out’ and ‘excel in’ intrapersonal and interpersonal matters. He holds a PhD in Management and a Master’s degree in Psychology (www.dratrecounsels.com). • Founder of Socialigence – a venture specializing in development of ‘Social & Emotional Intelligence’ and its offshoot interpersonal skills through workshops and an award-winning online course rooted in neuroscience and psychology (www.socialigence.net). • Author of two books related to his domain, namely - “Understanding Emotions Logically” and “Observing Nonverbal Behavior”; and third book on various aspects of life, named “Two Paras of Everyday Wisdom”. Moreover, the collection of his Nazms and Ghazals is published as a book titled “Baat Jazbaat Ki”. • Corporate Trainer, with experience of close to two decades. Has conducted 150+ workshops/sessions for 50+ organizations & institutions like CSC, Cummins, Piramal, Ranbaxy, Lupin, Bridgestone, Michelin, Eicher, Maruti, Force, Idea, Airtel, NBHC, SBI, HDFC, L&T, Zydus, Thapar University, Banasthali, Narsee Monjee, Symbiosis, IIFM Bhopal, Azim Premji University, Nirma, Welingkar & IBS Hyderabad. • Co-Founder and Director of CH EdgeMakers – a leading ‘Coaching and Training’ organization of central India for more than 24 years. He has trained close to 100 thousand students for ‘Soft Skills’ & ‘Entrance & Recruitment Preparation’ (www.ch-india.com). • ‘Management Speaker and Orator’. Has featured at platforms like TEDx, IIM, IIT, NIT, CII, YI, CII-IWN, TCS, IMA, ICAI, ECA, ISHRAE, NEN, Sahodaya, Aditya Birla Education Academy, Round Table, LinkedIn Local, Rotary International, MP State’s Teachers’ Training, Academic Staff College DAVV, Police University Rajasthan, Police Training Academy Indore & more than 100 institutions. • Member of noted associations and boards. Has been an ‘Executive Committee’ member of Indore Management Association. Associate Editor of IMA publications. Governing Council Member of Banasthali University’s SBBJ Centre for Research in MSME & Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Women. Executive Member of IMS, DAVV Alumni Association. Member of Rotary International’s ‘Group Study Exchange’ team to Minnesota, USA. ESI Coach with FWSA Australia. Note: For glimpses of work, watch YouTube Channel ‘Dr. Sandeep Atre at Socialigence’.
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