Holiday Last-Minute Gifts for Self & Others

5 MIN READ

The holidays are here and gift-giving activities are fast approaching. You may be ahead of the game as I’ve tried to be in past years, or you could be way behind on your gift-getting as I happen to be this year. Wherever you are on your holiday shopping, one thing is almost always certain - you didn’t include the most important person on your list, YOURSELF. So in the spirit of last-minute holiday shopping, here are some tips and suggestions as you hastily make room in your bank account and your tree for presents for the loved ones in your life, which includes you.

Tip #1 Gift Yourself

This time of year can be filled with stress, grief, anxiety, and busy work. Consider giving yourself a self-care gift of time, rest, and relaxation. On my Self-Care page, you’ll find gifts like:

• A pain relieving roll on by Sombra which I’ve bought for myself and given as gifts to colleagues and friends. We all swear by it! It’s warm and soothing like you’d expect from Salonpas or Icy Hot but the roll on makes it easy and mess-free to apply.
• A meditation app by Calm which I’ve used for three years and recommend to loved ones, colleagues, and clients. You can try it for free before committing!
• Online yoga and meditation videos by The Yoga Collective. A friend of mine gave me a gift of an annual pass and I continue to renew it because it fits my schedule and lifestyle. You can take online classes to Move, Connect, and Refresh, based on your level, with time increments of 5 to 60 minutes.
  

Tip #2 Buy a Book

With so much to learn and so many stories told, why don’t we take a break from binge-watching our favorite shows and pick up a book instead! Whether you prefer audio books, reading from your Kindle, or holding a bound copy in your hand, a good book can be the needed respite from a busy life and stressful activities.
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In my Bookcase, you’ll find gifts like:

• A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. "Joy is the dynamic aspect of Being. When the creative power of the universe becomes conscious of itself, it manifests as joy. You don't have to wait for something 'meaningful' to come into your life so that you can finally enjoy what you do. There is more meaning in joy that you will ever need. The 'waiting to start living' syndrome is one of the most common delusions of the unconscious state." 
• Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. "We now know that our resting brains and wandering minds are actually quite active. We know that the areas recruited during spontaneous cognition aren't hard-wired and fixed but evolve and grow and strengthen over time...And we're beginning to see how we can tap into and improve the resting brain's ability to help us generate insights, see novel connections, and make breakthroughs." 
• Present Over Perfect: ​Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist. "We all have these complicated tangles of belief and identity and narrative, and one of the early stories I told about myself is that my ability to get-it-done is what kept me around. I wasn't beautiful. I didn't have a special or delicate skill. But I could get stuff done, and it seemed to me that ability was my entrance into the rooms into which I wanted to be invited. I couldn't imagine a world of unconditional love or grace, where people simply enter into rooms because the door is open to everyone."

Books for the wonderful kids in your life include:

• The Secret to Clara's Calm by Tamara Levitt
• We are Inspiring: the stories of 32 Inspirational Asian American Women by Angel Trazo

Tip #3 Make Something From the Heart
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Gone are the days when we could put our hands in some paint, stamp it on a card, write our name and “I love you!” next to it, and give that to a loved one as a gift. Or is it?

We underestimate the value of a thing or work made with our hands and minds, but it continues to be one of the most thoughtful, personal gifts that we can give to someone. Here are just a few examples of gifts that I’ve seen people give as gifts, consider what makes sense for you and try something out of your comfort zone!

• Succulents. My partner Michael and my best friend’s mom Amvir are incredible at this!


• They will find cool things like pots, decorations, or ceramics from local thrift stores like Goodwill or Savers, and then they’ll plant one or more succulents a week before.


• As a special touch, consider including a short note on how to take care of it, like “Spray once weekly.”

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Poetry, short story, or other writing. I’ve done this for my partner, my Mom, and friends over time.

​This can be a poem typed and framed, or a printed book of short writings. You don't have to write something new if you have pieces folks have never seen before, bring something out of your treasure chest and make it shine with pretty font on fresh paper!​

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Arts and crafts of any kind. When was the last time you’ve gone inside Michael’s or Joann’s?

My bestie Gina is a fantastic scrapbooker and she also makes dreamy ribbons and bows.

​My long-time friend Amparo (aka Apple) makes incredible gifts from the heart through crochet. If you check out Apple’s Instagram you’ll get some great ideas for crocheting, or you can reach out to the queen yourself for a special order!

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Tip #4 There is No Perfect Gift, Just Thoughtful Ones

At the end of the day, let’s try to remember that it isn’t about how much money you spend, or if you even expect a gift from this person in return. It’s about what makes you grateful for having this person in your life, and the most natural, cost-effective way for you to show her or him that gratitude.

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To my Mother, my partner Michael, my grandma Trining, my cousins Janella, Melinda, Justin (may you rest in peace), Evita, Cristine & Mikey (and my second cousins Nate, Jon, and Lizzie), Cassandra & Matt, Dalton, Anna, my aunts and uncles Hedy & Ben, Hanny & Howard, Joel (aka Manoy), Elenore & Bernie, and family spread throughout the Philippines, US, Australia, and elsewhere, I’m thankful everyday to have you in my life and to be part of this beautiful, multi-cultural family! 

To my best friends Lara, Gina, Erin, Meo, Serei, SJ, Roy, Alerie & Rod, and friends all over the world, I’m grateful for you!

To my mentors Dwayne, Sr. Susan, Kevin, Elroy, and so many more that have touched my life, thank you for your wisdom, your well-intentioned feedback, your selfless coaching, and your positive vibes.

To you readers out there, I’m so thankful that you read whatever you read on my website, and I hope you have a blessed and joyful holiday season with your loved ones!

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry​

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.