The Best Secret Santa Gift: Music is Priceless

Secret Santa gift programs abound during the holiday season. They are a fun way to bring people today, make acquaintances, and share gifts. What is a Secret Santa gift program, you ask? All the names of participants are put into a hat and mixed around. The hat is passed around to each participant. Each participant picks another's name. That person is the one you will be providing gifts to for whatever time period. Your recipient does not know whom the gifts are from. Only on the last day of the Secret Santa program, do you introduce yourself to your recipient. Here is one of the best Secret Santa gifts every given and received. As part of an office holiday happening, I picked the name of an upper level executive. I had never met her, nor even greeted her. She had a reputation of never smiling and just seemed like she was not any fun. Plus, every time I saw her from a distance, she appeared stressed out. So, when I picked her name, I was curious as to how this was Secret Santa gift thing was going to work out. My Secret Santa gift to her was a holiday tune a day via her voicemail. With my flute, I would play her one tune a day. Each day she would come into the office and there would be a soothing holiday tune on her voicemail. It was a live concert, if you will. The first day was "O Come All Ye Faithful", second day was "Silent Night", third day was "White Christmas", and this went on for seven workdays. On the last day, her voicemail had "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on it. The flute makes absolutely beautifully melodic sounds when playing these classic tunes. On the last day of our Secret Santa gift program, I went to introduce myself to my stressed-out executive. I walked into her office, she looked at me, and without saying anything, she jumped out of her seat. She exclaimed, "Are you my Secret Santa?!" "Yes, I am," I replied. She then came up to me, threw her arms around me, and told me how much my music meant to her. She was all smiles. "You have such a beautiful tone! That is the best gift you could have given me. I never thought of anything like what you did!" she said.

Then, she told me a story about how her son had tried to play an instrument (trumpet) when he was younger. He tried for three years without much success. She told me that he just did not have the gift or tone. He practiced and practiced, but just did not have the natural born gift in him. Her expression while telling me this story was one of reminiscing and lost hope. Then, suddenly, she starts telling me how much she just loves music.

My Secret Santa gift: To see the transformation from a stressed-out executive to a smiling, content human being was priceless. Plus, my Secret Santa gifts cost nothing but some time. That is what music can do.
Moral of story: If you are involved in any Secret Santa gift program, and play an instrument, give others music. Play a concert. Play a tune. Bring some smiles.