I have a philosophy of gift giving where I try to give people what they need. I usually try and do it in a creative way, though sometimes the basics are appreciated without the added flair.
So what do people need? According to the psychologist Abraham Maslow, our hierarchy of needs is something like:
* clean air
* clean water
* healthy food
* physical movement/rest
* healthy sensory stimulation (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
* shelter (protection from extremes)
* a safe and loving home and community
* belonging and usefulness
* exploration and understanding
* diversity, beauty, and creativity
* understanding of yourself
* a better world
* a peaceful self
I figure, if I can give someone even a smidgen of any of the things that they don't already have in their life, then my gift will really be something meaningful. This is why things like plants, food, candles, and books are usually pretty good bets for people, because they satisfy the needs for clean air, healthy food, and healthy sensory stimulation pretty well. But when I'm looking for a more personal touch, or trying to give a gift to the "person who has everything" I try giving some of the more complicated needs (near the bottom of the list) like a better world, or a preaceful self.
I like the idea of giving someone a "spiritual" journey - to a mountain vista, coral reef, or site of an ancient civilization. I could literally give them an all expenses paid vacation package, but not being at all wealthy, I'm more likely to give them something less expensive, and accompany it with a hand written story about what the gift represents. For example, I gave my grandmother a clover leaf that I pressed between two pieces of glass (and sealed with some decorative metal foil tape) and included a card in which I wrote about a memory I had from childhood when she took me to a field of wildflowers and we picked blueberries and she taught me that you could eat red clover flowers. That adventure in exploring nature and all it's wonderful sensual beauty really meant something to me, and I wanted to thank her for that. My hope was that my gift offered her a sense of usefulness as well as a reminder of nature's beauty and diversity.
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So what do people need? According to the psychologist Abraham Maslow, our hierarchy of needs is something like:
* clean air
* clean water
* healthy food
* physical movement/rest
* healthy sensory stimulation (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
* shelter (protection from extremes)
* a safe and loving home and community
* belonging and usefulness
* exploration and understanding
* diversity, beauty, and creativity
* understanding of yourself
* a better world
* a peaceful self
I figure, if I can give someone even a smidgen of any of the things that they don't already have in their life, then my gift will really be something meaningful. This is why things like plants, food, candles, and books are usually pretty good bets for people, because they satisfy the needs for clean air, healthy food, and healthy sensory stimulation pretty well. But when I'm looking for a more personal touch, or trying to give a gift to the "person who has everything" I try giving some of the more complicated needs (near the bottom of the list) like a better world, or a preaceful self.
I like the idea of giving someone a "spiritual" journey - to a mountain vista, coral reef, or site of an ancient civilization. I could literally give them an all expenses paid vacation package, but not being at all wealthy, I'm more likely to give them something less expensive, and accompany it with a hand written story about what the gift represents. For example, I gave my grandmother a clover leaf that I pressed between two pieces of glass (and sealed with some decorative metal foil tape) and included a card in which I wrote about a memory I had from childhood when she took me to a field of wildflowers and we picked blueberries and she taught me that you could eat red clover flowers. That adventure in exploring nature and all it's wonderful sensual beauty really meant something to me, and I wanted to thank her for that. My hope was that my gift offered her a sense of usefulness as well as a reminder of nature's beauty and diversity.
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giving_ideas- DIY Gift Ideas
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I try to do this as well.This past xmas holiday in addition to the usual video game/Lego sets,for each of my 2 young sons I made a donation to a forestry that re-plants trees in their name,sends them a certificate thanking them and explaining why it is important to do so and how they're helping the environment.They are 13 and 9 years old and were very pleased with the idea(despite my Mother being convinced that they would care less about it).Other times,I have 'adopted' endangered animals and they receive pictures of the animal,progress updates,etc.I have them annually recycle their unused toys to shelters and raise them to be caring,thoughtful,open-minded citizens of society.I send my mother organic flowers.I buy my grandmother organic,natural products that will benefit her(she's 84 yrs old).In the process,not only do I feel good inside but I know I am helping everyone involved grow as well.Sometimes the best gifts one can possibly give are from the heart.