Tea Towels and Thoughtfulness

My friend Lynnea just returned from a two week trip to the UK and France. I must confess I'm pretty jealous of her globe-trotting ways, but it's her thoughtfulness that I most want to emulate. Every time she and her husband take a trip, they bring back a souvenir for Matt and I. Isn't that sweet? This time she brought me these:

They're darling little Babushka tea towels from Paperchase. Aren't they adorable? Lynnea knows how much I love matryoshkas and Russian folk art, as well as pop art and kitsch. I really appreciate her thinking of me on her travels. 

I really want to be a good friend like that, the kind of person who thinks of others even on vacation. I get such tunnel vision in my life. Really, it's like a tunnel with a screen over the end--I can only just make out even the things right in front of me. But I imagine thoughtfulness is like so many other virtues, and can be cultivated with practice. But how does one practice thoughtfulness? Hmm... It's something to ponder this month. The end-of-year holidays are an excellent time to practice thoughtfulness, don't you think? How would you go about cultivating consideration? I would love to hear how you make yourself a better friend and family member to your loved ones.