The practice of gift-giving is one of the oldest traditions that can be traced back to the prehistoric ages. On special occasions, we give presents to our loved ones to show them our appreciation and strengthen our relationship. However, gifts do not only come in the form of material things. Time and experience are the priceless gifts that we can give our family and friends.
Oftentimes, we find ourselves struggling to find the perfect gift. If this is you, here are four ideas you can look into.
Personal, Customized, and Unique
One of the English language’s most common, well-known proverbs is, “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” In case you are not familiar with it, it simply means that we shouldn’t criticize a gift, no matter how much we may or may not like it. After all, we did not have to pay for it, and somebody else put in the time and effort to get it for us.
Still, there are many kinds of gifts, some better than others. And while the person receiving it will most likely exercise appreciation and gratitude, at least when they are in front of you, if you want to show that special someone you really care about them, you should give them something distinctive, customized, and unique.
If you do not know where to start, you can always visit a local gift shop and inquire about their personalized services. Some of the best ones will help you create an item the person you love will definitely never forget.
What You Cannot Get Back
The concept of time travel has captivated scientists, teachers, movie producers, and regular folks like you and me for decades, maybe even centuries. What would you do if you could go back in time? Would you engage in the same behavior or change it completely? And if you could go into the future, how many years ahead would you travel to?
Sadly, aside from the celluloid, time travel is not possible, no matter how much we wish it would be. Once the time is gone, it is never coming back. As a result, if you want to impress another person, grant them something they know you can never get back. Give them a few moments of your time.
If they are too busy to go out with you to a restaurant or shopping mall, give them your time by helping them finish whatever it is they need to finish sooner. If they need a few hours off from their kids, volunteer your time to babysit for them and tuck the little ones in bed. Keep in mind that even if time is priceless, few things in life have more meaning and value.
Sparing No Effort
Regardless of who you are or what you do, you cannot deceive other people more than a few times. They will realize what you are doing at one point or another and will either call you out for it or remove you altogether from their lives. By the same token, it will be difficult for them to ignore your hard work and dedication forever. And if they insist on doing so, then it is perhaps you who should decide to detach yourself from them and put an end to the relationship.
Some people believe in karma, and others don’t. Some people think whatever you put into something is what you will get in return. Whatever the case may be, the people you value and who value you in return can see if you are giving your best to the relationship. Whether it is your spouse, your children, your friends, or your colleagues at work, giving another person a sincere effort on your part means they are important to you and not just another person passing along the way in your life.
Straightforward and Sincere
A white lie is usually defined as a trivial or harmless lie, a lie said in part to protect somebody else’s feelings. For example, if your son or daughter is a bit on the heavy side and asks how they look, sometimes it’s better to tell them they look great rather than throwing reality toward their faces. However, if it becomes a problem that concerns their health and well-being, a white lie becomes an act of condoning, leading to a terrible result.
Nevertheless, the people that are close to you deserve the truth. They deserve your honesty in the vast majority of situations. They deserve for you to tell it like it is, albeit in a friendly, empathetic way.
If one of your friends will soon have a job interview, and they are not ready, it is your job to help them prepare by first aiding them in acknowledging their shortcomings and the areas where they need to improve. Likewise, it is also their job to congratulate you for a job well done but also call you out when you did less than you should have.
If you want to give someone you care about something special, give them something unique or share your time with them. Finally, give them your best as well as your honesty. These are things they will certainly appreciate and respect.
