This’ll be long, so there’s a TL;DR at the bottom, and the full picture of all the gifts will be the first one in this album.

I'm utterly speechless at what I've been given. It's hard to describe the great joy I feel for what I received, how grateful and humbled I am that someone would put this much time, effort, and resources into a gift for a total stranger, and am touched by how we identified not only in hobbies but ideologically as well through the message he gave in his words and gift.

I arrived home today after a long day of running errands, and I had seen that my gift had been shipped a day ago. I checked my mailbox. Nothing. Got a little sad, but no biggy. I was just really excited to receive a gift after I had hand delivered the one I was giving. So I open my garage door to pull in my car, and I start cleaning up for some guests I’m hosting tomorrow.

Time zoomed by, leaving me in the sunny day that it had been, while the moon had risen a few hours back. My sister, whom I was on the phone with, made me aware of the beautiful stars and night being out, so I rushed to turn on my Christmas lights. Smack! I fell on the ground tripping over a long box that was left right at my front door. I turn on the lights, and I see one, … no two… three boxes around my front door!

I quickly pulled them in, and I start opening the boxes, with enough sense to start taking pictures as I start opening each one. I start with the box labeled 3 of 3. Figured counting down the boxes was the way to go. The outside also kind of gave away that it was a pressure cooker that I had been looking at and saving up to buy for months now. My sister laughed as I screamed with glee pulling it out of its wrapping.

The second box was oddly large, so I had no idea what to expect. I cautiously sliced the tape apart, and in it was not just one thing, but one thing covering another three things neatly wrapped and bow-ed. At this point I was starting to tear up out of the sheer joy and gratefulness I felt. My secret santa had already gone above and beyond. Gift one, some delicious barbecue sauce from one of my favorite bbq places in town, followed by, gift two, a full grilling tool set!! Another thing I had been saving up for with the grill my parents had given me as a homewarming gift when I had finally moved to a rental home out of college. Then I start opening up the next couple of packages, and out come some running shoes that I’ve been in deep need of, and a gri gri (an assisted belaying device).

Momentum moved me forward to the first box of the set, but the last one that I would open. And in it were 6 more neatly wrapped gifts and a letter. Something told me that the letter should be saved for last, as I felt something special was in it. As I tore through the last of my gifts, I ended up with a brand new climbing harness (which I was desperately in need of), some chalk (which I need literally all the time yes literally there is no other way to keep my sweaty hands dry all the time especially when climbing ), a rope bag (because I’ve been treating my rope pretty badly by using the plastic bag it came with as a mat and to carry it around), and a gravity hook (cuz grappling things is stupid useful while climbing or while not). This guy had to be a climber. There was no other way around the reasoning behind all of the things I had just received besides him knowing what was up.

The tears in my eyes from all the excitement started slowing me down as I started crying from just sheer emotion and excitement that only occurs in those special moments in life. Fortunately, I had just received an environment proof Bluetooth speaker because my tears were drowning it , and a super nice mixing set and cocktail book to know how to make tasty drinks out of my tears and joy and happiness. Not only did I have a nice speaker to pump me up when hitting up the hard climbs outside, but now I am able to play music for when I host get togethers with friends, and be a good bartender/host.

Then I read these words:

“Happy holidays. I hope you enjoyed [the gifts I have purchased]. I share your passion for climbing – so be safe and challenge yourself to new heights. I would [also] encourage you to [challenge yourself] and always find ways to give back [as has been given here to you].”

I placed some words in brackets because they are either more fitting to others reading this (such as you guys already know the list of things that were gifted to me) and because I found these bracketed things as implied meanings to what was written. And I was deeply humbled by those words. I spent some time sitting in silence meditating what I had just received.

I do my best to do things for people here and there. I participate in this gift exchange, sending messages back and forth with those I’m gifting and spending a good portion of my budget for non-necessities to give a gift that the person will find useful, thoughtful, and personal; pick up some trash that’s out in parks or on the streets in the ground; help someone in need of assistance at places that I go with lifting things, holding things, pushing things, etc; try to smile at everyone that I pass by on my daily travels; perform random acts of kindness to strangers and friends alike on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s tiring, and sometimes I feel so down that these simple things that could make someone’s day. But this gift reminded me that I should stay strong even on those bad days. This gift also reminded me that I can do more to help out and give to others as well.

I have been given much this holiday season by a complete stranger in one gift exchange. This post is hardly appropriate for how grateful I am for my gift, and how much I appreciate my santa’s giving heart and wise words. I hope that he’s getting as much fulfillment in life, peace and tranquility, and all around goodness as much as he’s giving to me and the others that are coming across his path. I also hope to find him on the crag one day to personally show him my appreciation.

Thank you my Secret Santa.

TL;DR - Cooking, Grilling, Mixing, Climbing, and Outdoor-ing starter pack received. Am ready to take on the world now. Am very grateful and humbled by the gift.