Most of you know what Five Minute Friday is, but as a quick review, it’s a chance for a group of dedicated writers to get together weekly to write on a one word prompt for five minutes. Nothing fancy. Nothing too deep [unless that’s the direction we writers are convicted to do]. Technically, no edits — including spelling and grammar — although I’m sure we all fudge on that one. I know I do. When I just let my fingers wander, they often can’t keep up with my free range mind and the gibberish on the screen needs deciphering. And we do it all in five minutes! [Well, that’s the goal, although I’ve been known to go a tad beyond at times.]

It all starts with a Twitter party Thursday night where the prompts come to life. Then it’s work time.

The exciting part is after we post, we share. We visit on Facebook in the Community section at  fiveminutefriday.com and link our words before settling in to read the remarkable takes on the prompt word from other writers in the group. I encourage you to visit as well, even if you’re not inclined to join in. It is painless … and so rewarding.

As an extra inducement, I’ve been including testimonials on Five Minute Friday from other contributors as collected in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Flat compiled by Susan Shipe. This week’s it’s by Ashley. May her words sway you to give us a look.

“FMF is a writing home. I love the writers there because they care more about people than platform, more about encouraging than success.”

So, there you have it, I guess it’s time to get to work. The prompt this week is PRESENT. The timer is set for five minutes. GO …

Nothing profound this week, just a reminder not only for this season, but for year round.

I’ve seen the illustration before and was reminded about it again while watching a Hallmark movie last night. I probably wrote about it before. It’s a core value. It’s simple. In fact, it is so simple, we often forget it.

It isn’t the biggest box in the room that commands attention. It isn’t the most perfectly wrapped gift. It’s not the glitz and glitter. It’s not the tree or the stockings or the decorations.

The best present in the room is you being present … in your child’s life, in your spouse’s or significant other’s life, in your personal life with others, in your professional life. You — your presence — turns a present from merely a gift into a true present.

So, this year, this season, stat a tradition that carries throughout the year. Give the gift of yourself, your undivided attention, without distractions, without phones or tablets. Take the time to listen to the giggles and the conversations. … STOP

... Make yourself present in the moment. It will be the greatest present you can give.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: I’ve never determined my value based on my looks or anything physical. — Viola Davis