Giving gifts is a time honored tradition in almost every culture. We celebrate milestones like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduation, bar/bat mitzvahs, Quincineras, engagements, new babies and more with gifts. Winter holidays such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas are typically ALL about the gifts! And Hallmark has worked hard to set aside specific days to honor our admins, grandparents, friends, mothers, fathers, valentines, sweethearts and more, all in an effort to get us into the gift 9and card!) giving mood. I hope that you will keep the Heart of Hope bracelets on your list as your favorite "go to" gift for any occasion. But today, I want to re-frame the custom of giving gifts...just a little!
As I get older, I realize how materially blessed my family, friends and I are. We really don't "need" anything and I often joke that NEED is a very relative concept! Instead, there will be times when we really need to give the gift of time to someone we love. Time?! You may have someone in your life who is battling with a catastrophic or potentially life threatening disease like breast cancer, or has escaped an abusive relationship. It may even be you! These events are not typical milestones to celebrate, but I believe we may want to reconsider the definition of "typical" and celebrate these precious moments!!
But how do you give a gift of time and make it special? How do you offer your services and have the intended recipient actually accept the help offered, in the spirit it was offered? I was discussing this with some friends a while back and we all agreed that it's tough to accept help gracefully! Together, we came up with a lovely solution - a way to turn an offer of time and/or service into something that the recipient can intellectually accept with grace. when you think about it, if someone you cared about, took the time to wrap up a gift and give it to you, you wouldn't turn it down. You just wouldn't!
Whatever the occasion, the Project Gift Box is perfect for someone who needs help and not "stuff". You can go solo, or better yet, get together with several friends to create a customized gift.
Step 1 - Create the Box
- Find a medium sized gift box with a lid. Green tip: Recycle an old gift box!
- Go all out and decorate it to your heart's desire! Wrapping paper, ribbon, glitter, the works! Add uplifting messages.
- Wrap the box and the lid separately.
- Find 4 - 5 different colors of paper and cut into 3" x 3" squares - Medium sized PostIt notes are the perfect size and don't require cutting! The colors correspond to the amount of time which can be donated for any given offer (e.g. 15-30 min., 1-2 hours, 3+ hours, etc)
- Tape one slip of each color, with the time allotment, to the inside of the lid (as a reminder)
Step 2 - Add the Gifts
- Think about household projects/chores that can be shared/delegated. (See suggestions below). There are chores that probably need/should be done by the recipient, but does it really matter who rakes the leaves or cleans the cat box?
- Estimate how much time the task will take and jot it onto the corresponding slip of paper.
- Drop each of the tasks into the decorated box.
- On a separate card, add the following message and include it with the box. "Whenever someone asks you "What can I do to help you?", ask them how much time they have and then ask them to pull a colored slip from this gift box. Then relax and appreciate this gift of time!"
- Deliver the gift box to your friend!
That's it! What chores would you add to the Project Gift Box!
Cool Runnings - Peace be the journey.
Suggested Chores - you are limited by your own imagination!!!
- Change the bed linens
- Fold clean laundry
- Assemble a grocery shopping list (look in the cupboards and learn the specific brands your friend buys)
- Go grocery shopping
- Put away groceries
- Pull weeds
- Read to the patient or a restless toddler
- Help with homework
- Walk the dog(s)
- Clean the catbox, hamster cage, rabbit hutch, bird cage, goldfish bowl, etc.
- Empty the dishwasher
- Clean the toilet(s)
- Mow the lawn
- Take the car to the carwash
- Follow your friend to the dealership/repair shop for auto servicing. Take them out for coffee while you wait.
- drop off a bank deposit
- Plant flowers/veggies
- Clean the pool
- Run the vacuum
- Rake leaves
- Clean the gutters
- Carpool kids to school, soccer, dance lessons, etc.
- Collect the trash/recycling and turn it in.
- Pick up/Drop off a prescription or dry cleaning order.
- Return library books, video rentals
- Shovel snow
- Hose off window screens
No comments:
Post a Comment