What is the best gift you have ever received? How did you feel when you opened it?
I have received numerous gifts from friends and family, but there is one among them all that really stand out. The best gift I have ever recieved was a laptop from my big brother. This gift holds a special place in my heart as it arrived at a time when I was in dire need of it and it is a symbol of my brother's love and support.
It was the perfect gift I could ever ask for!
At the time I received my gift, I was learning graphic design and desperately needed a tool for constant practice, a laptop. Unfortunately, I didn't have one, and practicing with the one at my workplace proved extremely challenging. It is a public place, and many people makes use of it. Each person has only thirty minutes to use it, and that is not enough time. The computer at my workplace runs very slowly, so by the time I boot it and open a software to begin working, thirty minutes must have already passed. This means I must make way for another person to use the computer.
Even if I managed to get enough time to practice, the noise at the workplace wouldn't let me concentrate. As a beginner in graphic design, I am often sent on errands to fetch working materials. Practicing at my workplace became very frustrating due to the numerous distractions.
Besides using the computer at my workplace for practice, I had a second option- the desktop at home. The desktop at home works efficiently; I'd give its processing speed an 'A'. However, the significant issue was the power supply. In my street, we receive power once every two weeks, and it's not even consistent. We can go for a week or more without any power supply, posing a serious power outage problem.
As the desktop cannot function without electricity, I had to rely on the generator to supply power, but we don't use it every day due to the high cost of petrol.
I had to keep managing the computer at my workplace and the desktop at home until I finished learning graphics design. After completing my graphics lessons, I needed to revive my content creation career, which was the main reason I took computer and graphics lessons. Typing, editing, and uploading content with my phone presented an entirely new set of problems, especially because I didn't have a good smartphone.
I create content primarily on the Hive blockchain, but due to the lack of good devices, my consistency suffered. I used the desktop at home to type blog posts, and most times, I wouldn't even finish before receiving a warning that the fuel in the generator had been exhausted. Sometimes, my mom or brother would ask me to turn off the generator because it was already late. To clarify, I only use the desktop at night when my big brother returns from his workplace with fuel.
If I couldn't finish before the generator went off, I would have to continue with my phone. Oh, not that phone again! Content creators and Hive users can relate to how challenging it can be to create content with just a problematic phone. The numerous typos, editing struggles, and waiting for minutes for apps or websites to load were simply unbearable. It often took me two to three days just to create one blog post due to the limitations of my devices. It was very frustrating for me, and I became very inconsistent as I couldn't keep up with the stress of it all.
When I complained to my big brother about it, he generously gave me one of his smartphones, which was excellent, I'd easily give it an 'A'. However, it didn't entirely solve the issue. I managed with it, all the while hoping for a miracle.
When my brother noticed how challenging it was for me to create content on my phone, he decided to give me the perfect gift: a brand-new laptop. It happened on a fateful Tuesday when he suddenly left the office, mentioning he was going to get something for someone. Upon his return with a bag, it was easy to guess what was inside – a laptop. I felt a bit sad when I saw it because I genuinely needed one, and I didn't even have it in mind that it was for me. I assumed he helped someone purchase it and intended to install some software before handing it to the owner.
My assumptions were proved wrong when, after a few days, he handed the device to me, confirming it was a gift for me. At first, I thought he was joking and told him to leave because I was in no mood for such jokes. But then, he handed me the receipt with my name on it.
It was not an overreaction!
I was overjoyed – overjoyed is an understatement; I was mad with joy and happiness. I couldn't help but call my other siblings who weren't staying with us to share the news. I jumped on my bed like a little kid, shouting. I can't just describe how I felt that day.
I made sure to get a separate desk for the device, and every day I would ensure the desk was clean. I would place it beside my bedside, and sometimes, even wake up at midnight to check on it, making sure it hadn't been stolen. It was the perfect gift I could ever ask for, the specifications are excellent and just what I had always desired. He got me a perfect present, and I couldn't be less grateful.