Top Ten: Non-Stuff Gifts
I love gifts -- giving and receiving them. But a gift needn't be a physical object for it to convey affection. Yes there is a time and place, and it sure is fun to come across that perfect item. But there are so many options out there that are equally awesome but are not things. Below are my Top Ten Non-Stuff Gifts:
1) Plants
This category ranges from a bouquet of flowers, to wreathes, to potted plants and herbs. You could even gift someone seeds to plant in their own garden. Ideal for so many occasions. A lady will always love them.
2) Acts of Service
Again, wide-ranging. This could be as simple as mowing a lawn or doing the dishes. Seriously - either of those activities could make my day if it's been a hard one, don't you agree? But acts of service can be specific to you and your skill set as well. I, personally, bake cookies. My great aunt used to sew clothes. You could cook a meal, change a tire, run errands -- the list is endless. Whatever it is is always appreciated because that particular act lightens the load for the receiver.
3) Donation
I love this gift because we all have organizations and causes that are near and dear to our hearts. To give money to one that is especially meaningful to your loved one - they will love you for it.
4) Classes
Oh this is such a fun gift! Do you have a burgeoning cook in your life? Or someone who can't put down a camera? Does your loved one dream of riding a horse a la the Wild Wild West? Get them classes! Cooking classes, photography classes, horseback riding lessons - there are classes for everything, guys! A friend got me classes for a yoga studio nearby recently. I felt so pampered. Namaste to me! Encourage people's passion!
5) Tickets to a Cultural Event
Music, sports, theater, the symphony, a museum exhibition, even a garden tour. There are cultural events popping up all the time. Again, encourage your loved one's passion.
6) A Restaurant Gift Card
For the foodie in your life, this will always be appreciated.
7) Movie Tickets
Yes, this could be classified with everything in #5. But I love this gift if you are strapped for cash. One year, during my starving artist days in NYC, I got movie tickets for everyone in my family and their spouse. Boom: date night. Also, any cinephile will love you for this.
8) A Gift Card
If I know someone loves a particular store, sometimes I prefer getting them a gift card and letting them pick out exactly what they want. So I guess this gift turns into stuff, but at least they are choosing something they'll truly use. Also, gift cards could be for iTunes or Starbucks or even your favorite grocery store. Seriously. We got giftcards to a few grocery stores for our wedding, and I gotta say -- I loved it. (Our guests knew me well. Grocery shopping is my favorite kind of shopping always and forever. There. I said it.)
9) A Letter
Letter writing is a lost art. But have you ever received a letter -- hand-written, thoughtful, all about how special you are to the writer? It's irreplaceable. Take the time to sit down and let your loved one know why he/she is loved. They will cherish your words. Trust.
10) Time & Attention
At the end of the day, that's what we all really want. In my opinion. A friend of mine, who lives far away from her mom -- one Christmas she got her mom a weekend away. Just the two of them. They met in a city that was easy for both to fly to. And they just hung out. I love staying in a good hotel. It's just so decadent. Last year for my birthday, my man got me a night in a hotel right here in downtown Indy. We felt like we were on vacation. We got to explore a city I was still getting to know. And, we didn't have to pay for airplane tickets. Time and attention can be as extravagant or as simple as you want to make it. If could be a manicure & pedicure, it could be sipping coffee at your home, it could be a vacay to the Greek Isles. It doesn't matter. As long as the focus is on your loved one - talking with them, laughing with them, listening to them. It will be a gift and a memory you can never replace. There is so little we have control over in this life. And none of us really know how much time we have left here. So let's make the most of the time we have right now. Don't you think?
What are your favorite Non-Stuff gifts? Share in the comments below!
