Yesterday we talked about changing the way you view gift-packaging. Today let’s get into the actual gifts. There are two basic habits that can make all your gift-giving much more meaningful and much more sustainable.
- Give consumables or give cash. Most of the items mentioned above fit into the consumable category: they are items that will be used up in the recipient’s daily life and activities. Most of us are inundated with stuff; we don’t need more of it, especially more of the non-useful, non-personal kind of stuff. When you give a gift, make it a gift of less clutter, not more, by choosing items that are 1) something that the recipient would need and purchase anyway or 2) something special but consumable, that will give the recipient an out-of-the-ordinary experience without adding to the daily clutter.
Examples: gift cards and cash, are, of course the easiest and most guaranteed one-size-fits-all consumable options; gourmet food treats, whether you make them yourself or purchase them from local artisans, are always welcome; tickets to events, parks, museums, concerts; registration to an organization; a donation to a charity in the recipient’s name; a live plant with instructions on care; fresh, local produce from the farmer’s market around the corner, a few recipes, and a jar of sea salt or olive oil; instructions and ingredients for all-natural face or body products; a gift certificate for a massage, spa treatment, or haircut; movies or books along with easy instructions for a book and movie swapping site (and paid registration, if needed). - Give from your life. What do you know, do, experience, or study on a regular basis? Any of your interests can be the foundation for a great gift. If you’re into rock-climbing, give the recipient a trip to a local climbing wall, a ball of chalk, and your help; if you’re an artist, give the art you create; if your hobby is crafting or cooking or photography, create a gift from that interest in your life. You can also use your memories and experiences as a gift for the people you are close to. Create a photo album or digital slideshow with narration to celebrate an anniversary, graduation, or other milestone; write out your life experiences for a child or grandchild; make a list of the things you love about your spouse, frame it, and present it over dinner together.
Gifts should be thoughtful no matter how well you know the recipient; and gifts can be both thoughtful and personal when you have a close relationship. Instead of running to the store for a useless memento that you’ll wrap up in wads of paper, think of something that creates an experience or memory, something that shares part of your own life, and something that will truly convey your best wishes.
Image Credit:Chrys Omori.
I love bare feet, Dr. Bronner's, cotton skirts, summer rain, winter snow, new places, open-minded people, deep conversations.
I had a (short-lived) natural products company while I was in college: The Full Nelson Natural Products...
