Alice Kim (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
With the end of the summer months comes a moment of respite before the end-of-year frenzy. During this post-summer period, you may be filled with much gratitude for all your loved ones for the special memories you made. There is a reason why gift-giving is one of the five love languages: it can be a tangible way to show your love for someone.
When it comes to the art of gift-giving, there is no right or wrong. However, it can be stressful to pick something that perfectly encapsulates the emotion you want to convey to the recipient. So, where to begin? This is my very own recipe to cook up the best gift for anybody in your life, something that I have mastered over the years.
- Decide on the category of the gift. Will it be an activity pass that the two of you can use together? Or, will it be a certificate for some much-needed solo TLC for the recipient? This would heavily depend on who you are gifting it to, the nature of your relationship and maybe even the time of year that you are wanting to give the gift. Just trust your own judgment and go with it. (Hint: This is only the first step, so do not feel too much pressure to make a decision here. The following steps are more crucial to the gift itself.)
- Figure out a budget. This may feel a bit awkward, as if you are placing a monetary value on your relationship with this individual, but it is to determine what would be an appropriate amount to spend on this category of gift. This might be an easy choice for some, and it could be a sensitive topic for others. You must ask yourself, how much would the recipient be comfortable receiving from you? What price range would not feel too overbearing for them? Whatever budget makes you feel comfortable as well is the right one to choose.
- Reflect on every single interaction that you have had with this individual. Okay, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but you do need to take some time to reflect on the most recent conversations that you had with this person. Did they talk about their long-term interests or new hobbies that they had taken a liking to? It is easy to fall into a “low-maintenance relationship,” where you forget about the person until you hang out with them again. To give a good gift, you want to make sure your friend feels seen and heard—that you remember them. Take this as an opportunity to reintroduce yourself to your friend and learn more about them.
- Write a card or a note. Even if it is a short message, write out your gratitude for this person—really think about it and verbalize it. How will they know how much you love them if you do not express it? You could even add in a poem that shows how you feel if you cannot seem to get in touch with your emotional side. This is also a good opening to explain why you got the gift for them as well, and maybe include a good throwback anecdote.
- Wrap it up. The cherry on top of every gift is the wrapping. To stay on theme, adding nice wrapping shows that you care. To keep it sustainable, you can explore reusable options, and some stores even come with complimentary gift-wrapping services if you want to leave it up to the professionals. If gift-wrapping is not on-brand for you, you can opt for a nice bag, other kinds of packaging, or even a ribbon to literally tie it all together. The presentation does not have to be too fancy, but it needs to act as the finishing touch to show that you thought everything through from start to finish.
This recipe is something that has worked for me in my relationships, but expressing love and gratitude is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Tailor it how you see fit for the best experience of gift-giving to those in your life. You should also keep in mind that at the end of the day, it is not just about the actual gift itself. It is about the “Hey, you took up space in my mind when I saw this,” and the “I think of you when you’re not around, and I hope you think of me too,” sentiments. It truly is the thought that counts, and the great care you took throughout the entire process.
Now it is time for you to try out the recipe yourself!
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