I have always struggled with the holidays and the idea of gift-giving. Prices are always hiked up this time of year, society makes us feel like we have to break the bank in order to please the people that we might see … maybe twice. A few years ago, I tried to change that around and start making my gifts for my family, a craft, a baked good, an art piece, but I still found that I wasn’t giving with the right intentions. I was still just making something and creating a gift out of formality and behaviours that are ingrained. Giving as a formality left me feeling drained, disappointed, and broke by the time the new year came around. The holiday season became something that was exhausting, rather than a time for celebration.
In my belief system gift giving is still a component, but it really does focus on loved ones, and intention, not just something expensive we buy at the store because someone may or may not like it. This year I decided to really focus on that intention.
How can you give with intention this holiday season?
1. Cultivate Passions
In the society that we live in we often put our passions to the side, only to find ourselves feeling drained later because we haven’t spent time on cultivating our inner peace. This holiday season, whether you pick names with your family or only give to the children, try to encourage passion. Learn what the other person is passionate about, crocheting, art, drawing, reading, dancing… whatever it may be and give them the materials to cultivate it. It doesn’t have to be something extravagant, or expensive, but something to encourage them to find the time to work on what they love.
2. Find the Calm
Another intentional gift is one that targets someone’s calm. What brings someone’s calm is unique to each individual, thus there might be a little homework on your part. If you know that someone enjoys taking a bath as a way to unwind or their peaceful place is at their camper by the fire, you can theme your gift towards that. Targeting their unwinding activity, will encourage them to find their calm and allow them to make themselves a priority and charge their battery.
3. Be Practical
When it doubt, practicality can never lose. There is so much intention behind buying practical. Knowing what detergent someone uses, creating a wellness kit, or baking something delicious. Whichever way you decide to go, you know that those items will be used, especially if you took the time to learn what items the person uses in their household.
