Let’s face it, shopping for holiday gifts can be a downright drag. Whether you’re spending hours on the Internet trying to find the perfect gift or whether you are fighting for a parking space in holiday traffic, shopping sucks.
We are blessed with so many gifts as Americans, as people born in modern times who needs this year’s “hottest, must have gadget, scarf, etc”? It brings at best a momentary thrill. Utlimately it becomes more stuff. These pointless gifts don’t even really mean more than surface level happiness.
It’s time to get off this hamster wheel of consumerism and start thinking outside of the box this holiday season. It’s experiences and activities that we should spend our money on. They’re the things what make the memories, and help us to spend time with the people we care about.
Here are three ideas for gifts you can give your loved ones. Got any other ideas? Please post them in the comments section!
Take a class together. My daughter Melanie and I took a Thai Street Food cooking class at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health yesterday. We spent all afternoon making red, green and yellow Thai curry pastes and ended up enjoying a big feast of Thai food along with some mango coconut ice cream for dessert. Beyond cooking classes, you could find a pottery class, painting, yoga, bellydancing, you name it, the sky is the limit!
Theater or show tickets are another great way to create a memory instead of more “stuff”. While Broadway tickets can be expensive, you can find loads of local theater, comedy and music venues close to home.
Make cookies together. Kids of all ages love to bake. Set up a day to make cookies together. Need some recipe ideas? Click here, here and here. Arrange to have a cookie swap with friends or neighbors. Or donate some of your yummy home made cookies to someone in need.
