"Give experiences, not things."
"Give them the gift of less stuff."
"Connection over consumption."
I've been seeing this message everywhere lately, and it could not be more timely. At no time in human history has there ever been more stuff for us to acquire and accumulate. But do any of us really need more items, objects, or things?
Some ideas for gifts that don't add to the pile of stuff:
Gift cards (or e-gift cards)
Lessons, classes or activities (cooking, dance, languages, skydiving)
Tickets to movies, music, performance, or sporting events
Food and drink
Flowers
Time (plan a date, host a dinner party, offer babysitting or housekeeping services)
Donate to a charity in the person's name
If you're giving a tangible item, furoshiki (traditional Japanese method of wrapping gifts in squares of fabric) is big this year (thanks Marie Kondo!) It's beautiful and the "wrapping paper" can be used again and again.
I have one more idea I'd like to suggest, and it's not a "friend date" to go have coffee. Or airplane tickets. Or homemade cookies. Although all of these things sound quite nice.
Don't get me wrong, if you truly love giving gifts in the usual sense of the word, and would feel something missing without doing so, then by all means, keep giving them. And may they bring joy to both you and the recipients.
But if you find that you've simply exchanged the pressure of having to rush around, desperately seeking the perfect item for each person, for the pressure of having to come up with the perfect edible gift or "experience gift", then what's really changed?
Idea: Give the gift of being present. Give the gift of listening, really listening. Give the gift of letting them know how important they are to you. Express it in words, or write it down in a heartfelt card or letter. Give the gift of your undivided attention. Make them the center of your universe. For five seconds, five minutes, or five hours.
