First let's
take a look at gifts that are truly uninspired. Flowers for example. Don't get
me wrong, flowers make a wonderful gift, just not for those big dates like an
anniversary or birthday. Flowers, while lovely, take no thought. You go to a
florist, pick out an arrangement, pay the money and they're delivered. Ho hum. Did
I say flowers make a wonderful gift? Yes I did, but give flowers when they're
least expected. The same ho hum gift on a wedding anniversary makes a
wonderfully thoughtful statement on a Wednesday, for no reason at all other
than your spouse told you yesterday they had an awful day and you show up with
a wonderful arrangement of flowers. Which do you think makes more of a
statement?
Gift cards
are another gift that takes no thought. Go spend some money, put the plastic
card in an envelope and give it to someone. How thoughtful. Not! Gift cards are
given by large companies that cannot take the time to figure out what
individuals want. Gift cards are generic, not thoughtful.
So what
makes a thoughtful gift? A unique gift idea, a thoughtful gift, should have
three qualities. First, it should be something that the person receiving it
will want or use. Argyle socks on Dad's birthday in the middle of August are
neither unique nor thoughtful. If he's into gardening a year subscription to a
gardening magazine you saw him looking at in a bookstore would be a thoughtful
and unique gift idea. Second it has to be out of the ordinary. I'll give you a
personal example. I spend a great deal of time at the keyboard.
Since I've
been a programmer most of my life I've always spent a great deal of time on
one. A friend of mine once gifted me with a wooden keyboard. Everything on the
keyboard, keys, surface, everything, was cherry wood. It felt wonderful. I used
it for years until it finally died. That was a thoughtful gift. Lastly a
thoughtful gift should make the statement that you thought long and hard about
this gift. Money, flowers and gift cards do not make that statement. Wooden
keyboards, a hosted wine tasting party, hot air balloon rides, magazine
subscriptions about a favorite hobby or interest makes a statement.
You'll
notice that price range was not mentioned. A unique thoughtful gift does not
have to be expensive. If you're a parent don't you treasure the refrigerator
art your children make for you? You know they spent hours, and it cost very
little, but that artwork is probably some of your most prized possessions.
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