At a loss? Not sure what to buy that person-who-has-everything?
Don’t panic! Because here are some gift-giving ideas centered around a theme—a simple premise. One that goes like this…
Rather than banking on an almost-impossible hope of satisfying that person-who-has-everything, why not think differently and do something that will benefit some other real-life person? A total stranger, perhaps. Or maybe a neighbour.
Here’s what I mean.
Gimme Shelter
Forget the necktie. Your old uncle Arthur—I’m willing to bet—has enough bloody ties. Instead of browsing in Menswear, head across the mall to where the supermarket is. Now fill the cart with fruit, veggies, non-perishables and, of course, a turkey and truck it all down to your local food shelter. Then give uncle Arty a card explaining that your great and good deed was offered up in his great and good name.
Or, if you want to go basic, just take the coin you were going to drop on a paisley bow-tie and donate it to a needy organization. Make sure the receipt’s in your uncle’s name, and give that to him—with a flowery thank-you on Christmas morn.
Homeless shelters, centres for the abused and, especially at this time a year, food banks need all the support you can muster. So go ahead. Eschew the tie; make the donation. I bet it’ll warm uncle Arthur’s heart much more than you could have ever predicted. Besides, who wears ties nowadays?
Make it Personal
In a similar vein, there is almost definitely a family on your street, or in your kids’ school, that is down on their luck. You know what I mean right? There’s someone you know—or someone you know about—that lost their job, that’s recovering (or waiting for) surgery, or that’s suffered a hardship that couldn’t have come at a worse time of year.
Help them out. Buy toys for their children, or buy a turkey for their Christmas dinner, then gift-wrap it and deliver it to their door. Then tell that difficult person-who-has-everything, via a card, about the heartfelt gesture you performed in their name. That deed will make you feel good, will warm the hearts of a needy family and it should make the person-who-has-everything happy too. Talk about win-win-win.
Go Indie
Do you know how many independent writers there are? Tons, that’s how many, tons.
And, contrary to popular belief, many—if not most—are fine writers. Brilliant even. In the last few months alone, I’ve read works by Gregory Mose, Daniel Clausen and Leo Babauta. And I’ve enjoyed every page of their books.
For next year I’ve already teed-up books by indie writers like Alex Carrick, Frank E Mundo, Daniel Clausen (yes, him again, what can I say? I’m a big fan), Donna Carrick and Moriah Jovan.
Now here’s the thing. Writers—of all colours, of all stripes and of all corners of the world—love nothing more than to be read. That, of course, is why they write.
So go ahead. Buy a book by an Indie writer (any of the above is a good bet). With luck you might even be able to have it signed and addressed to uncle Arthur. If nothing else, you will have a compelling, first-person account to go along with that original gift.
Get Even More Indie Mood
You know that the word “indie” covers more than independent writers? Of course you know that.
You’ll find Indie artists in the performing arts, the visual arts and the recording arts. Here are just a few I’ve gotten to know, I’m getting to know or I’m hoping to know; Mike Dickson, Heike Matthiesen, Peter Hum, Trey Ratcliff, Nancy Kenny, Christopher Davis.
So why not browse the web for your local art scene? Or, (if you trust my taste) seek out one of the aforementioned artists and buy a ticket to their show, buy their CD or one of their prints, buy a music or art lesson, or just arrange for a photo shoot. Think of it. You’ll be helping out an independent artist and you will, almost definitely, have the most original gift under the tree.
There you have it, just a few suggestions for a Christmas gift that goes further than just being given. It’s a gift that will make someone’s day. I guarantee it.
How about you? Do you have a gift idea that, in addition to benefiting the recipient, also helps out someone else? Let me know by leaving a comment.
