A couple of weeks ago, I had to stuff a gift bag for an event I was attending. All around the store, I could see amazing, unique gifts that were sure to excite and bring a smile to the recipient’s face. I thought I was done with my shopping for the day, but then I came across a section of the store filled with fake gifts. It was almost overwhelming to see how much fake stuff had blended in with the real gifts.
At first, I was tempted to grab something from the shelves and stuff it in the bag, mainly because it was much cheaper compared to the genuine gifts and I thought it would noone would know the difference. But then I thought, that didn’t seem to be the right thing to do.
Instead, I decided to treat this as an opportunity to explore my creative side and put together a truly unique gift bag that was true to its purpose and would bring joy to the recipient. I ended up picking some cheaper ordinary items, but then I mixed them together to come up with something special. A few ribbons here, some laces there, an assortment of candy, some little toys and bits and pieces to tie it all together.
When I looked at the finished product, I was truly satisfied and proud of myself. It made me smile in satisfaction to know that I had taken the extra effort to make something special that the recipient would appreciate and remember. That feeling was definitely worth the effort.
The end result was colorful, creative and full of character, just like I wanted it. It was definitely much better than the fake gifts I had seen, because it represented so much more than just a ‘stuffing’. It was a token of appreciation, courtesy, thoughtfulness, and respect that went way beyond any monetary value.
Although it might have been much easier to fill the gift bag with cheaper fake gifts, the end result would not have been the same. Taking the time to think of something unique and creative made a world of a difference.
And that goes to show, sometimes the road less taken is the one worth taking!I was chatting with a friend the other day and we got on to the topic of gifts. We started talking about the difference between giving someone a fake gift versus finding something unique.
My friend shared her experience when she was shopping for her daughter’s birthday party. She couldn’t help but be drawn to the fake gifts at the store. Not surprisingly, they were a fraction of the price compared to whats around them.
It would have been much easier for my friend to purchase these items and simply stuff them in the gift bag. But she also knew it was important to give a gift from her heart and that meant finding something unique for her daughter.
When she arrived at the party, her daughter opened the gift and her face lit up with joy. My friend was thankful that she had made the effort to find something that her daughter loved and appreciated. She realised that the extra effort had been worth it in the end.
I also shared my amazing experience of finding unique gifts for the gift bag. I told her that I had taken a few ordinary items, a few ribbons, strings and some toys and tied them all together in a creative way. I was really happy with the end product and was proud that I had taken the time to make something special from scratch.
We both agreed that it’s so much more meaningful to find something unique rather than going for the cheaper fake option. Fake gifts may sound like a good idea for a short term solution, but it’s far more meaningful to think of something special and thoughtful for whom it’s intended for.
I then shared another related experience I had encountered. A friend of mine had asked me to curate a gift bag for her college reunion. She had asked me to hand-pick a few unique items.
At first, I started to consider the option of picking out some fake gifts and blending them with the real items. But as I thought more about it, I wanted to do something truly special and unique and that’s when I decided to put my creativity to the test.
I ended up putting together a stunning gift bag with some memorable items such as personalized mugs and t-shirts, some homemade confectionery items, a few toys and some handmade accessories.
My friend was truly overjoyed and surprised when she opened the gift bag. She said it was much better than she had expected. Everyone who received it had the same reaction and appreciated my unique and creative approach to it.
Gifting someone something unique goes beyond any monetary value. It’s the thoughtfulness that counts and that’s why it’s so important to avoid the fake gifts route whenever possible. Putting effort into gifting someone with something meaningful and heartfelt is simply priceless.
I also think it’s important to invest in a few unique and thoughtful items and set aside a special account for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. That way you’ll never have to worry about purchasing something fake. You’ll also save yourself the time and energy of having to figure out what unique presents to purchase last minute.
When we left the topic of discussion, my friend and I both agreed that taking the road less taken is often the most rewarding path when it comes to gifting someone something special. It’s the little details that always make a world of a difference.
I also shared my plan to introduce my own version of a ‘love stash’. Basically, this ‘stash of love’ would be filled with enough gifts and trinkets that could be used for special occasions.
I intend to collect items such as keychains, broaches, mittens, match boxes and badges. It’s just a little project to ensure that I’m never short on unique gifts for those special occasions.
Having friends and family members come together and exchange memories and stories is such a special experience. And, it’s even more special when you’re able to hand over a unique and personalized gift that’s sure to put a wide smile on their face.
Rather than filling the gift bag with impersonal and fake items, it’s so much better to take the extra time and effort to put together something special and meaningful. That’s what gifts are all about and that’s why I’m always a huge fan of putting in a bit of extra effort whenever I can.