Creative Gift Giving

There are 10 more days ‘til Christmas and that has children and adults quite anxious. The holidays are a time for celebration and reflection. This year we are in the depths of a recession and many people are filled with angst about holiday gift giving. No matter how often we say it, it never gets old, “It’s the thought that counts.” This is more relevant now than ever before. Fewer dollars doesn’t have to mean fewer gifts, but instead more creativity. Some of the best gifts I have ever received were not store bought. A drought can represent a real opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the season and those closest to you. So, that being said…get creative!

Speak

Words last a lifetime. There are so many wonderful ways to share your love and express your sentiments through writing. Look how successful Barnes and Noble Booksellers has become. Why? Because people love to read and they love to buy books. Buying allows people to go back and read books over and over again. So, you think that you’re not a writer, bah humbug. Everyone is a writer and writing is all about expressing yourself. Whether you express yourself through poetry or some sort of prose, it will be your writing and the recipient will love you for it. Your words can be a source of inspiration. Take the time to share your love with someone through your words.

Remember

Just as words last a lifetime, so do photographic memories. We are living in the digital age and we have the ability to capture so many moments and view them instantly. I am sure that you have taken some photos of some pretty memorable occasions that would make perfect gifts. Photographs are the perfect keepsakes and there are so many creative ways to gift them. You can even combine older photos that pre-date the digital era and combine them with newer photos. If you need some help trying to figure out just what to do with you photos, there are many great online resources. Kodak’s Ofoto and Snapfoto.com offer many creative options for your photos. You can create photo books or find some really funky frames for your pictures of special times or special people. You can also create a calendar for that special someone. It will definitely bring a smile and is a gift that can be displayed openly for years to come.

Give

When all else fails, the very best gift is the gift of time. It would seem that volunteering is always highlighted around the holidays and rightfully so. Find out what people need and take it from there. So what if it’s something that you haven’t done before…even better. It’s a great opportunity to step outside the box. Try creating a little gift certificate that offers your time and/or services to someone and present it just as you would a gift. It can be someone you know or someone you don’t. This is the one gift that has two recipients. You will benefit from the experience just as the recipient does.

We all need to be reminded of the true meaning of the holidays. Over the years we have accumulated more stuff and placed a ridiculous value on the stuff, but at the end of the day it’s just stuff! I cannot think of a better time and a warmer way to express your love and appreciation than with the gifts you create yourself. It’s never too late to create new traditions and get back to the old.

Happy holidays! Happy creating!

-Daphane is a blogger for The Sorbate. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.