I think it’s safe to say that we all have too much “stuff.” And, we give a lot of it this time of year because we believe it’s what our friends and family desire. I’m as guilty as the next person – I love to spend time thinking about the person and picking out that perfect gift that I’m sure will bring a smile to their face.

But, this year I’m taking a different tact that I hope you’ll consider as well. Giving experiences instead stuff. Here are some experiences to consider that will certainly warm the heart and put a smile on the face of those on the receiving end – who knows, it may open up a whole new world they hadn’t previously explored.

Gift time.
Who doesn’t need more time? This could be in the form of babysitting for overtaxed parents; it could be time to help a friend who’s just moved into a new home and needs help painting or repairing; it could be a visit to a senior center or nursing home spending time with those who don’t have family nearby; or it could be time to help plant a garden. Making “Gift of Time” coupons that can be redeemed is a nice touch. The important thing is to follow through with your time.

Unburden Your Parents.
All around this great big world, our parents have acted as storage units for their children. How many of us still have boxes in the attic or basement of our family home; those things we just couldn’t part with? Relieving your parents of this burden would be a fabulous gift. While you’re at it, find out what else they would like to clear out and then give them a hand – donate items to a charity or make a dump run. Everyone will feel lighter at the end of the day.

Gifting Heirlooms.
Parents are delighted to think their most treasured possessions will go to loved ones – great grandmother’s wedding ring; the autographed baseball that your father gave you; the hutch that your grandparents brought over from the old country, even your baby pictures. Why wait until your will is read; gift those items now – bring joy to the recipient and eliminate the possible hassle of who was promised what.

Waste Free Holidays.
If you just can’t wrap your brain around what to give Aunt Edna for the holidays, there’s a great resource that’s jammed packed with ideas. It’s called Waste Free Holidays – www.wastefreeholidays.com. Mention them to any program partners and receive great discounts on gift certificates, tickets or memberships for music, sports, museums, plays, restaurants, massages, and more. Here’s a sampling of participating partners: Woodland Park Zoo, Grand Central Bakery, 8 Limbs Yoga Centers, Seattle Children’s Theatre, DiscoverU, and Baby Loves Disco. Check out their website for a complete listing.

Enjoy the holidays and all those fabulous experiences.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 at 8:41 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.