BEYOND THE BOX
The best gift you can give this season
It can be a gift for men, or women or a gift for your mom. Every season we ponder upon the best gift ideas for our loved one.
I was doing an online course where the instructor on the last day asked us to gift something for our mothers.
It had to be simple.
I gifted my mother and sister a rose and chocolate.
I touched their feet (a custom in India) to show my gratitude and Thanked them for being a strong support in my life.
What is a gift anyway?
Does it have to be an expensive thing?
I know a youngster who measures the love for a person in the form of how much money they spend on him.
It goes the same for his parents, friends and relatives.
And that is the problem, you can spend money on the gifts and call it a day, but the real gift comes in the form of a blessing.
Blessing of saying thank you and spending time with your loved one.
I have two beautiful nephews, and they crave to spend time with me.
I feel blessed, that they share their innocence and naivety with me.
We often forget that innocence exists in us too. They are the reminders.
So instead of giving you a list of items and crowding affiliate links, here are some gift ideas that are not materialistic.
Ideas that will not only make the person’s day but will touch deeply in an unexpected way.
Cook
Cook a meal for your loved one. It does not have to be fancy.
I can cook good Indian food and people love it. My friends make a plan to come for dinner at my place instead of going to a restaurant.
To be honest, I sometimes hate it, but my friends are so persistent that I have to cook for them.
Deep down, I like it too.
The house is full of people. The kitchen is busy in preparation for the feast.
We come together and share our thoughts and gossip a little bit.
Said so, my nephew is happy with a pancake I make every morning.
Food is an integral part of any culture in the world.
It was for food that our ancestors gathered together around the fire, and shared stories.
This togetherness has paved the path to our civilisation.
Call the person or people you care for and invite them for dinner.
It can be the best gift you can give this season.
Paint a card
When I was a kid, I used to get invited to all the Birthday parties in the colony we used to stay.
I have not missed one Birthday party in the colony while growing up there.
And the reason was Hand painted greeting cards.
I loved to paint since childhood, and I used to hand paint greeting cards as a gift to the Birthday boy or girl.
I still like to gift people in my close circle drawings and paintings.
It makes a connection that goes beyond materialistic transactions.
People frame them and hang them on the wall, which then becomes a constant reminder of you.
Moreover, it makes your loved one feel that they are special and someone cares and thinks about them.
Do whatever best you can, don’t judge your art skill.
Pour your emotions on the paper consciously and it is bound to convey your feelings with honesty.
Give it a try, I am sure you will paint something better than Picasso, LOL.
Spend quality time
Time is priceless.
And the joy of giving it to someone unconditionally is pricelessly priceless.
Do you know a spot on the outskirts of the city?
Go there with your loved one gaze at the stars and breathe the fresh air from the mountain breeze.
Talk. That which is not spoken in the public.
Encourage
Do you have a friend that is sitting on a fence?
Not able to decide whether to start a new business, go on a solo ride, or write a book or anything that they want to do desperately; but something is pulling them back.
It is encouragement that is keeping them back. Push them off the fence.
Walk a few steps with them in their initial journey.
Introduce them to a friend or connection who might offer them the insights needed to start their journey.
Encourage and give them confidence that a pilgrimage begins with small infant steps.
Comfort them in the early stumbles and fumbles.
Give them the strength to carry on and help them recognise incremental success no matter how small it is.
Learn and teach to celebrate the little moments in life.
I love the idea of life as a gift. People love my presence and I make sure I take out time for people I care about and love.
We talk, drink and eat together.
An object as a gift is compensation. It can hold significance if it is chosen consciously and thoughtfully.
But the idea of bigger the better, more expensive is more impressive are replacement for the not sharing you with the world.
The best thing that can happen to the world is your love. Everyone is able and can afford to reciprocate it.
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