CalmMoment.com 13gifting
The art of
mindful giving
W
ith the pressure to create the perfect
Christmas weighing heavily from the
opening chords of the first Christmas
radio jingle, the stress on our minds
and our purses can be immense.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
“I have a festive LAY [Look After Yourself ] programme
dedicated to supporting women to cope with the pressures
of Christmas,” says Karen Heras-Kelly, empowerment coach
at A Tribe Called Woman (atribecalledwoman.com). “If gifting
feels like a burden, choose a different route and get creative
with ways you can demonstrate your love.”
Get crafty instead
Instead of buying generic gifts, why not make something
personal instead? Jayanthi Ezekiel, founder of Maiden Aunt
(maidenaunt.com), set up mental health charity Mind’s
‘Christmas Crafternoons’ especially for this purpose.
“At this time of year, you can feel so overwhelmed with
stuff,” she says. “When you make a gift for someone,
much more thought goes into it.” Whatever your level
of experience, with inexpensive materials you can
create anything from simply designed cards to festive
fragranced soaps.
“I love it when a friend has taken the time to make me
something unique,” Jayanthi affirms. “You feel touched that
you’re in their minds and not just another thing on their
‘to do’ list.” With festive ideas around every corner, it’s time
to get crafting! Remember, it doesn’t matter if the final gift
isn’t Insta-worthy; it really is the thought that counts.
A different type of giving
Our time is one of our most precious commodities, making
it a valuable gift for our loved ones. Try making tokens to
babysit for a busy parent, or to cook for a family member –
no offer, no matter how small, will go unappreciated. By
recognising your personal strengths and offering them to
those who need them most, you know you’re giving
something they’ll genuinely love.
Volunteering over the festive season can make a big
difference to your community. Catherine Johnstone CBE,
CEO of the Royal Voluntary Service says even ‘micro
volunteering’ can have a huge impact, and “however people
choose to gift their time, whether it’s an hour or a month or
three days a week, it can make a significant difference.”Put pen to paper
The simple, yet wonderfully personal, habit of letter writing
has been largely lost, so a hand-written note is something
that will be treasured. “Sending a thoughtful letter to
someone can be just as wonderful as sending a gift,” says
author and personal development blogger Steph Caswell.
“It doesn’t even have to be a letter – you could try your
hand at poetry or reflect on the last time you were together.
It lets them know that you’re thinking about them.”
And it’s not just the recipient that benefits from such an
act. “It’s well-researched that giving something meaningful
to someone is a powerful way to boost your own self-esteem
and happiness,” Steph adds. “It’s great to think that in
among the bills and generic cards people receive at
Christmas, they’ll see your card or letter with its personal
message and feel genuine appreciation.”Make room at the inn
We can make a difference by extending our giving to both
our older family members and our local community at this
time of year. Deborah Fraser, media officer at children’s
charity World Vision (worldvision.org.uk), didn’t have
grandparents when she was growing up but recalls her
9 0-year-old neighbour spending Christmas with her family.
“Irene was like a fake grandma to us and didn’t have any
family nearby, so she would always come over to us for
Christmas Day,” Deborah explains. “She used to tell us
stories of her growing up and pass on her wisdom, plus she
was really fun and feisty.”
No matter their age, everyone appreciates a good meal
with good company. Setting one more place at the table
and welcoming someone who may otherwise be alone
is one of the most valuable gifts we can offer. And that’s
certainly worth more than anything money can buy.Giving someone a present doesn’t have to mean spending money.
Rediscover the joy of handmade, heartfelt gifting...
Words: Kay Ribeiro