Unwrapped: Stories of the Gifts Money Can’t Buy
- Gordon Gooding
- 26 minutes ago
- 7 min read
In a season often defined by bustling store aisles, delivery boxes, and the search for the "perfect" present, it is easy to lose sight of what actually lingers in our memories once the decorations are tucked away. While we spend weeks checking items off our lists, the experiences that truly shape our lives rarely come with a price tag or a barcode. This year, our team took a moment to look back at the "gifts" that have meant the most to us—the ones that couldn't be bought, but were deeply felt.
From a "Charlie Brown" tree in a first home to the quiet magic of a morning walk with a parent, these are the stories of the intangible treasures that make the holidays, and our lives, feel complete.
Gordon Gooding
There’s a photograph from 2006 that I treasure more than almost anything. My daughters were little, and a good friend had dressed as Santa, climbing onto our roof to wave through the skylight. The girls looked up, eyes wide, faces glowing, caught in that fleeting, perfect mix of wonder and joy. We snapped a photo at just the right second.
Looking at it now, years later, I see more than just two little girls waving to Santa. I see the beauty of innocence, the simple joy that makes childhood so magical, and the reminder that the holidays aren’t about perfection, they’re about presence. My daughters are grown now, finding their own paths and chasing their own dreams, but that picture still brings me right back to that living room, to laughter, love, and the quiet gratitude of being their dad. Parenthood moves fast, but moments like that one stay forever.
Gordon Gooding, LCSW, Founder and Director
Peter Juliano
One of the greatest gifts in my life isn’t something I could ever unwrap—it’s the simple morning ritual of walking in the park with my father and our two dogs, Leila and Fia. Having my dad live nearby already feels like a blessing, but starting the day together, side by side in the fresh air, has become something we both treasure far more than we ever expected.
Leila knows the routine better than any of us. Every morning, right on schedule, she waits by the door with that unmistakable dog joy, certain that “Grandpa” will arrive with a biscuit tucked in his pocket. When my parents adopted their dog Fia, she joined our little walking club with the same enthusiasm, bonding with Leila in a way that makes their happy trot feel like its own kind of gift.
There’s nothing elaborate about these mornings—a simple loop around the park, a few shared stories, two dogs zig-zagging in pure delight. But this small, predictable slice of time has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. It’s a daily reminder of how lucky I am to live close to my parents, and how deeply these quiet, ordinary rituals can root us in gratitude and love.
Peter Juliano, LCSW, Associate Director
Liana Ross
The greatest holiday gift I received didn’t come wrapped, it came in the form of a growing family. Watching our toddler blossom into her thoughtful, spirited self has been one of the most heartwarming chapters of my life. And with our son arriving in December (and our 10-pound mini poodle, Winston, eagerly awaiting his new sibling), this season feels especially full of gratitude, love, and anticipation.
Liana Ross, LMHC-D, Clinical Director
Marialaina Taldi
Last year was my first Christmas without my aunt, and our family traveled to Florida to celebrate my cousin’s wedding. One evening, as the sun set across the water, I felt an unexpected sense of peace—like she was right there celebrating with us.
The best gift money can’t buy: a sunset that reminds us that the most meaningful moments in life arrive quietly and freely. No perfection, no effort—just nature painting the sky and inviting us to pause, breathe, and feel grateful.
Marialaina Taldi, LMSW, Clinical Coordinator
Julia Purcaro
Two years ago, on Christmas Day, my family stepped away from the holiday routine we’d followed for most of my life and spent the day at my mother-in-law’s house instead. It was the first time our families came together before my husband and I were married, and there was something so meaningful about blending our worlds. Sitting in a room filled with my parents, siblings, and soon-to-be in-laws brought us so much joy. Hearing the laughter, the easy conversations, and the sharing of each family’s traditions filled me with a deep sense of gratitude for the life we were beginning to build. That day represented everything the holidays are meant to be—genuine connection, love, and simple, uncomplicated joy.
Danielle Sweeney
The best gift I ever received was realizing what truly mattered during Christmas when all three of my children were sick. My expectations for a "perfect" Christmas morning were replaced with the reality of caring for them. By adjusting my plans and embracing the day as it unfolded, it became more joyful than I could have imagined. We spent the day at home, watching them play with their new toys without the usual rush of family gatherings or the need for formal attire. Seeing their smiles, watching them ride scooters through the house, and hearing them say it was "the best day ever" was truly a gift. Sometimes, the greater gift is found in accepting reality rather than clinging to expectations.
Amanda Pustorino
For many of us, Thanksgiving brings to mind bountiful meals, beloved traditions, reunions with old friends, and the joyful anticipation of the season ahead. For me, this table—the one in the photo—has always been a symbol of that feeling. For thirty-two years, my family gathered around it, sharing laughter, stories, and the kind of memories that slowly stitch themselves into the fabric of your life. Every year, before the meal began, we went around the table and said the same simple words: “I am thankful for…”
It was such a small ritual, yet it carried immense meaning.
As the years passed and our family changed through love, loss, and the natural flow of life, this tradition remained our constant. It became an enduring gift: a built-in moment to pause, reflect, and remember the quiet power of gratitude.
While the overflowing table may be the hallmark of Thanksgiving, what stays with me most is something far deeper—my family’s legacy of giving thanks. It’s a gift I carry with me still, and one I’m endlessly grateful to have received.
Lauren Torrisi
The best gift I ever received wasn’t something wrapped under the tree, it was watching our family dog, Bixby, open presents on his very last Christmas with us. There was something so pure and joyful in the way he tore into the paper, completely delighted by the moment. I didn’t realize at the time how much I’d come to treasure that memory, but now it feels like a small piece of magic I get to keep. It reminded me that the simplest moments often become the ones that stay with us the longest.
Greg Schult
My most meaningful gift was our little “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree—our very first tree in our very first home.
It wasn’t much to look at, but it represented something far bigger than holiday décor. That tiny tree marked the beginning of a new chapter with my fiancée, now my wife, as we learned how to create a home together. It symbolized starting fresh, building our own traditions, and choosing love and intention over perfection.
All these years later, that tree still reminds me that the best gifts aren’t the ones we can buy—they’re the people we choose, the memories we make, and the quiet moments that become the foundation of a life built together.
Christine Olympia
The most meaningful gift I’ve ever received—and one that money could never buy—was the arrival of my nephew two years ago, just days before Christmas. He was expected after the holiday, so his early arrival felt like the sweetest surprise for our whole family. As the first grandchild, he instantly transformed the spirit of the season, and becoming his godmother has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
The photos I’ve shared say it all. In the first, I’m holding him for the very first time—overwhelmed with excitement and a kind of love I had never known before. In the second, he’s celebrating his second Christmas, sitting under the tree, wide-eyed and curious as he reaches for the ornaments. Watching him experience all his “firsts” has made the holidays feel magical again. There is something so beautiful about seeing the season through his eyes and being able to capture these little moments of wonder.
Jessica Baehr
The best gift that I receive every year that money can't buy is an early morning holiday hike with my daughter. Each year, we start our holiday on a hiking trail. Some years we are home, and we go to the preserve down the road from our home; other years we are away visiting family and we get to hike on a beautiful mountain. No matter where we are, I am so happy to be walking with her by my side. It's the perfect, most peaceful way to start the holiday!
Jessica Baehr, Office Assistant
If there is a single lesson to be gathered from these reflections, it’s that the best gift isn't something you find under a tree; it’s something you find within a moment. As you move through this season, we hope you find yourself less caught up in the pursuit of perfection and more rooted in the beauty of presence.
May your holidays be filled with the kinds of gifts that can’t be wrapped, but will undoubtedly be remembered for a lifetime.