December is here and the holiday season has come upon us faster than most of us expected. Now is usually the time for rushed trips to the shopping mall, spending exorbitantly, and somehow finding time for hosting holiday parties in the midst of all the chaos.
This year, however, is very different.
Within a year like 2020, it can feel like no amount of gift-giving or spreading of holiday cheer can change how difficult this time has been for so many. Presenting your loved ones with more material possessions may seem fatuous in a year where we’ve all truly learned what is most important in life - human connection. But what is the solution? We’re constantly bombarded in the December month with advertisements for the biggest and shiniest new toys for all the ages. Where are all the thoughtful gift ideas?
If you’re struggling to come up with thoughtful gift ideas for your loved ones, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite thoughtful gift ideas. Take a look and see if any of these suggestions would be a fitting gift for your loved one.
Local art.
Giving a local artisan’s craft to a loved one is a double gift because you are not only presenting someone you care about with a completely original piece of art, you are also showing support to your local artists. We have all been hit hard by 2020 in many ways, but artists of all kinds have had an especially rough go of it this year. Show them your support and give the thoughtful gift of a local piece of art to someone you love.
A homemade, family recipe book.
If your family spends a lot of time in the kitchen each year when the holidays come around, what better way to celebrate your shared love of cuisine and confectionary than to put all your family recipes together in a book to share throughout the years. This thoughtful gift has the benefit of being useful and of invoking a sentimentality that is sure to have your family members thrilled.
A locket.
Lockets are not worn by many anymore, but they are beautiful pieces of jewelry that can become family heirlooms and hide immense value inside of them. If your family has lost a beloved member, a locket with their photograph inside can be an extremely thoughtful gift as it lies close to the heart. What better way to memorialize someone?
A journal.
Journaling is a practice that many consider therapeutic and that can aid in creativity and productivity. Giving a journal to a loved one may give them an outlet they never knew they needed.
A digitized photo/video collection.
Another lovely, thoughtful gift idea is to get your family’s print photos, videotapes, and film reels digitized. These forms of analog media do not last forever, and their condition begins to wane over time. If your family has a collection of photographs, films, and videos documenting your shared history, now is the perfect time to get those digitized so that you can enjoy them forever. When you gather safely for the holidays, what better way to spend time together than to watch all your favorite home movies in their digital format, or to look through photographs and easily share them with all of your relatives.
These thoughtful gifts are sure to bring joy to your loved ones this holiday season and will hopefully redeem this year in some small ways. While this year has been challenging, we have all grown as a result and become stronger. Give a thoughtful gift to your loved ones this year to show your sincerity and care.
