Happy holidays! It’s that time of year again when you have a long list of all the people you love and want to get gifts for but are stumped wondering how you are going to afford a gift for everyone. You want to show them you care, but sometimes your wallet says otherwise. This year, being the broke college student I am, I came to realize that sometimes the best gifts are not material things at all. I sat down and made a list of gifts that really matter to people that everyone can afford if they just tried them.
So here are 10 gifts that cost nothing but mean everything.
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1. Your time.
Everyone nowadays claims they never have time to do anything. The truth is that we all have the same amount of time as everyone else does around the world. We all have 24 hours each day to use for our own good. It’s called priorities. Prioritize people. Prioritize your parents. Prioritize your siblings. Prioritize your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Show them you care by giving them your time even if you are crazy busy. It could be by simply meeting them for coffee or visiting them at their house over break. Just show them that they are worth every second of your time by being fully engaged during your moments with them.
2. Your attention.
With that being said, in this day and age, we have lost the ability to engage with people because cell phones have captured our undivided attention. We never are fully with people like we used to be before we had cellphones. How many times have you met up with someone for dinner, but you both end up scrolling aimlessly on your phones looking at things that don’t even matter? We all at some point have fallen short of this. When you are with someone, give them your full attention. Put away your phone. Be in that moment. Be with that person. Giving someone your full attention makes them feel that you actually enjoy their presence more than a silly cellular device.
3. Your trust.
Being truly honest with someone is an amazing gift that is taken for granted. I find myself never being able to trust anyone for fear of letting people see my true self. When I finally am honest with a person and show them my true thoughts and emotions, we share a deeper, stronger friendship than before. When you confide in someone, you create a new bond with them that is indescribable. Showing someone you trust them is truly magnificent. This Christmas, take down your walls and put away your trust issues. Be real with someone.
4. Your love.
A good hug is worth so much more than what money can buy. A simple text asking “How are you?” means the world to someone struggling. Bringing someone dinner when they just lost a loved one shows your true concern for them and their wellbeing. Being loving and caring towards someone goes such a long way, and I encourage you to show someone that you love them daily to remind them they are worth something and that they are treasured by someone.
5. Your effort.
Sometimes we mess up. We say and do things we shouldn’t have that hurt people. When I say things to my mom and dad I shouldn’t have, I say a simple sorry to move on with the issue but don’t follow through with changing my act. Instead, I fall into the same routine of saying disrespectful things and waving it off with a pathetic sorry. However, when I do make an effort to change my behavior, my parents recognize it and appreciate it more than just the usual sorry. Give someone you have hurt in the past more than a sorry; give them your effort to change.
6. Your participation.
My mom loves family bonding time, especially around this time of year while I usually find it annoying. However, going away to college has taught me to appreciate family time more than I used to, so this year I have changed my perspective and decided to give her my full participation when it comes to family events. This means less grumbling and more engaging. It was hard at first, but now it’s a breeze. When asked by her of what to do together as a family this year, I voiced my ideas of ways to bond together instead of my usual grumbles of annoyance. I could tell she appreciated my input and excitement to spend time with them. Show your family and friends you care by engaging with them and participating in things that matter to them – things like family time.
7. Your thankfulness.
My parents pay for so much. SO MUCH. There is no way in the world I can repay them. Sometimes, however, I find myself becoming a selfish and entitled person because I almost feel like I expect them to do all those things for me even though I don’t deserve it at all. Nowadays, I try to show my thankfulness by doing little things for them since I am unable to pay them back for everything they have done for me. I try to help clean up the kitchen without asking or offer to drive my brother places when I can tell they are exhausted. Little acts of kindness can show you are thankful for the huge acts of kindness they show to you.
8. Your forgiveness.
We all have people who have wronged us. They have hurt us in ways that have shaped who we are today. Whether it is a failed relationship or friendship, sometimes we find ourselves holding on to grudges against those people. Forgive them this Christmas. I’m not saying forgive and forget but just forgive. You don’t have to express this forgiveness with them, but just internally forgive them. Move on with the issue. I find this is also a gift to myself because it feels as if a burden is lifted off my shoulders. Forgive those who you have feelings of hatred against, and it will change your life.
9. Your compliments.
Give a compliment to someone. Plain and simple. I love giving people compliments because I get to see their entire face light up and their posture become a little bit straighter. They have a huge smile on their face, and they beam from ear to ear. If your mom looks beautiful, tell her. If you can tell your friend has lost weight, compliment them on their hard work. If your dad made the best dinner you’ve ever had, tell him that. What’s holding you back? Just be real with them and compliment them. It can make someone’s ENTIRE day without you even realizing it.
10. Your talents.
Use your own talents to benefit someone this year. If you’re talented when it comes to math, offer to help a friend or family member who is struggling with it. Are you really talented at baking? Surprise your friends with delicious cookies you created from scratch. Whatever your gift is, use it to help someone else. The best gift is using your talents for more than your own benefit.
So there you have it. There are the 10 gifts that are cheaper than material gifts yet still mean so much more. So, if you ever find yourself stumped for gift ideas or unable to afford that awesome, expensive present for your friend or family member, refer to these ten gifts. I promise these will make someone’s day more than another gift card or another shirt. Happy gift giving!
