Sentimental Gift Giving
With the holidays right around the corner, it can often feel stressful to choose the perfect gift for your loved ones. The true art of giving can often get lost in trends of the day or just plain consumerism. There’s nothing wrong with that fun toy or gadget, especially if it’s something that the receiver will truly love. But what if a gift could actually increase in value for the receiver over time? This is where sentimental gifts come in.
Unlike purely material possessions that may lose their luster, sentimental gifts tend to appreciate in emotional value. A simple item, when given emotional significance, can remain a cherished keepsake, passing hands throughout generations.
At its core, a sentimental gift is more than just a thing. It carries within it a memory, emotion, or meaning that is so much more than the item itself. These types of gifts represent a connection between giver and receiver. If you’re looking for this type of gift this year, here’s a round-up of a few ideas that will stand the test of time.
Recording Stories/History: Nothing says you care more than taking time to hear about another person’s unique experiences. Storyworth, My Life in a Book, and other similar programs are a unique gift that makes it easy to do just that. These services send questions to your recipient once a week, which they then answer via email. Their answers are recorded and compiled into a book, which can then be ordered and distributed to other family members. Another option is to take time to record them yourself by hand or setting up a video session (or sessions) and preparing questions yourself. Either way, the message is clear. You want to hear their story.
Hand-made Items: If you are crafty in any way, using that talent and your own precious time to make something can say much about your love and appreciation for a person. The extra time spent creating shows that rather than simply swiping a card or hitting “Add to Cart,” you spent hours creating something with them in mind. If crafting isn’t your strong suit, but it is the receiver’s, a craft kit or class that you could do together can provide an added gift of quality time spent in their presence.
Handwritten Mementos: In today’s digital age, handwritten anything shows an added measure of thought and care. A handwritten letter expressing gratitude and love for the receiver accompanied with any gift adds an extra special touch. Since handwriting is so unique to an individual, the handwriting itself can carry so much meaning and sentimentality. In this vein, Ali Wood Creations takes handwriting and cuts it into framed wooden pieces of art. Cherished notes, children’s scribbles, and even handprints are preserved from paper to wood in a lasting and memorable way. Other services can take handwritten recipes and transpose them onto cutting boards, plates, or tea towels. Many of these options can be found through various Etsy sellers.
Documenting Milestones: If your receiver has just gone through a new milestone, such as a new home, baby or marriage, there are many personalized gifts for them. For the new homeowner, for example, a replica of their new home can be made into an ornament for their first Christmas tree or into a drawing or painting for their wall in whatever style you think would suit them best. For a new mother, the birthstone or birth flower of their child in jewelry, their child’s name, or a birth chart would be a thoughtful gift.
Calendars and Photobooks: A calendar is one of those items that by itself may seem mundane, but when photos of memories from the past year are included, it becomes so much more. Many companies such as Mixbook, Shutterfly, and Social Print Studio provide unique styles and an easy and affordable way to print. Photobooks are also another great way to share pictures and memories from the past year. Chatbooks, Artifact Uprising, and other companies provide easy printing options.
In whatever form giving may take for you, hopefully these ideas can help express love to those most important to you.