Meaningful Gifts

We give gifts to show others that we are thinking of them and care for them. Sometimes, we do this by giving someone something material that they've been yearning, other times we give them things that we think they may want. A lot of the time, we're off the mark and the recipient, as a way of preserving our feelings, will feign delight.

But we don't really want to delight the recipient in them now having the thing they wanted. Rather, we want them to be awed and inspired into thinking, "wow, this person cares for me and wants me to be happy, so they've given this to me." We want them to actively think this, not as an afterthought.

The most meaningful and valuable gifts do not require hefty price tags, but they do require more thought. In fact, thought exponentially increases a gifts value:

1. the gift usually costs less
2. the gift has more meaning to the recipient
3. the gift may benefit a third party

An easy way to add value to a gift is through a card. A real card, not one written by Hallmark, with our feelings and intentions written in it, adds a lot of value. Another, better way of adding value is to do something meaningful in the recipient's honor. A donation is a start (that's easy, especially if it's to a cause that's important to the recipient), but even better is creating a true story:

• "50 meals were prepared for the homeless at the local mission to celebrate your house warming party."
• "A unit of platelets was donated in honor of your birthday."
• "Jane Smith ran 10 km and raised $250 for X charity to celebrate your new job."

Knowing that a lot of thought and effort was made on their behalf will make any recipient feel appreciated. And isn't that a gift's purpose?