The Gift of Giving
Do you prefer to give or receive a gift?
I think most of us enjoy both, but I particularly love creating special gifts. I’ve handmade presents for most of my life, in part because of limited finances but mainly because there’s so much joy in creating just the right thing to surprise someone. From hand-painted thermoses to delicately beaded jewelry, I toil and tinker for weeks each year to bring treasures to life for my loved ones.
It was such an honor this year to make gifts for some other truly special people: equine veterinarians. The amazing team at Nutramax Laboratories contacted me over the summer about joining them for the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ annual convention, a gathering of equine veterinary professionals who focus their life’s work on caring for the horse.
Nutramax Laboratories is the parent company for Cosequin, a joint supplement that’s been used by animal lovers for over 25 years. I learned so much by just being around Nutramax’s incredible team, and continue to be inspired by their dedication to animals and the people who care for them.
With such an amazing reputation for the quality of their products and the expertise of their team, Nutramax’s booth was busy with not just practicing veterinarians, but veterinary students and suppliers from all over the world. Over two and a half days, I customized over 130 ornaments for Nutramax clients from at least 5 different countries. An equine dentist from Poland, a veterinarian team from Brazil, students from Hawaii, a beautiful couple from Sweden - so many people stopped by to share about their holiday traditions and to talk about art and horses. Connecting with this community was truly inspiring.
It’s a privilege to spend time with other people who are passionate about their chosen professions, and time passed so quickly during each day at the convention. I’ve never painted such a large volume of gifts, and I still can’t believe how joyful the entire experience was! I’m so grateful to Nutramax for the opportunity to share in their generous gifting, and to be a small part of some very special people’s holidays this year.
The ability to give generously to others is a gift in itself, and I’ll never forget this experience. My hands might be a little tired, but my heart has never been more full.
