Choosing and delivering gifts is one of the great pleasures of the holiday season, a unique moment during the year when we select gifts that express our appreciation and love for the people who mean the most to us. Any gift that’s given from the heart certainly qualifies as “positive,” but there are ways to elevate your positive gift game this year.
1) Put Positive Messages in Their Hands
I mean this literally—giving printed or written positive messages in a form your loved ones can hold in their hands is a beautiful way to help them carry positivity through every moment of their day. They will think of you when they are inspired or encouraged to turn a tough day around, face a challenge, or lift up another person. The handmade craft site Etsy features scores of beautiful, unique gifts that fit this category. Here are three affordable choices that stand out to me:
—Positive affirmation cards that feature beautifully rendered messages like, “I am fearless. Nothing can defeat me today,” or “I am able to make smart decisions for myself.” $24.99 for a pack of 54 cards.
—Positive pencils to guide your loved ones’ words to reflect ideas like, “You Are Awesome,” or “You Got This.” $8.35 for a set of 6 pencils.
—Positive message keychains that will cheerfully jingle messages like, “Let That Spirit Shine” or “Sparkle Like a Star.” $5.95 each.
2) Give Them a Positive Read
Books have such power to delight, educate, and inspire us. Here are four books I’ve written about this year as part of my “Positive Reading List”
—The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
—Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
—If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating by Alan Alda
—Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation by Gabrielle Ottingen
3) Give of Yourself
A trend in gift-giving is to offer experiences instead of objects as gifts. I love this as a way to use the gifting moment as an opportunity to say to your friend or family member, not only do I love and value you, but I also want to spend time with you. Here are some ideas for ways to make experiential gifts positive and meaningful:
–Gift a foodie friend a cooking class you can take together and then plan a potluck meal where you show off your skills.
–Get tickets to a play, movie or lecture you both would enjoy, and go for a coffee date afterward to talk about what you felt, thought and learned.
–Pack a thermos of cocoa and some snacks and plan a hike in a beautiful natural spot your friend or family member has never been, to show them the gifts of the great outdoors.
–Make a plan to learn a new language with a friend either at a local class or through a free app, and then go out to dinner in a restaurant where that language is spoken.
–Make a donation in your friend’s name at a local charity they value and then volunteer to work a few hours together to make the world a better place.
Whatever and however you gift this holiday season, remember these inspiring words from Mother Teresa: “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
