From birthdays to exam congratulations and wedding anniversaries to new jobs, a thoughtfully chosen present can add meaning and warmth to the occasion
Handmade with love
If you have a talent for crafting and creating, a gift made by your own beautiful hands is likely to be loved and treasured. Whether you sew, knit, paint, sculpt, write poetry, make jewellery or carve wood, make your gift as unique as the recipient. If making isn’t your forte, then choose the next best thing. Buy handmade gifts from an independent artist or crafter. There are some amazing creations out there and your purchase supports the artist, too.
Home-baked treats
If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, make a sweet-toothed loved one an extra special cake or handcrafted, heart-shaped chocolates. Remember to stir in some love. Place your bakes in a lovely gift box tied with ribbon. A home-baked gift means you can consciously make something delicious while catering to preferences or intolerances.
Earth-loving inspiration
Recycled, sustainable, organic and eco-friendly gifts can help to save the planet’s fast-dwindling natural resources. Browse online for Earth-friendly web stores or go to your local organic or fair trade shop for conscious gift purchases. If you’re resourceful and on a budget, visit charity or secondhand shops for gift items to upcycle. One person’s throwaway item can be another’s treasure. Many nature-based charities have online shops selling unique gifts. You could contribute to a tree or grove of trees as a present for a keen gardener.
Lessons for life
A gift voucher isn’t always an easy way out. For those who love to discover or learn new things it’s inspiring and can pay for lessons or experiences they would never buy for themselves. Find out what they’re interested in and work out what they would appreciate before investing in a course. Think about a surprise gift lesson for yoga or meditation or, for the practical, a course in flower-arranging or upcycling. Classes can lead to self-discovery and new friendships, both of which can be life-enhancing.
A magazine subscription
Buying a magazine subscription for a loved one is a wonderful year-long gift and there’s a raft of specialist titles to suit most interests. Dare we say it, but you could even consider taking out a subscription to Breathe for a like-minded friend or relative. It will give them plenty of inspiration for mindfulness, wellbeing, creativity and escapes, and they’ll think of you every time the latest issue pops through their letterbox.
A wellbeing hamper
Choose a selection of natural mind, body and spirit treats to create a nurturing wellbeing gift hamper. You can carefully tailor them to complement your loved one’s age, gender and personal faves and include items such as organic soaps, aromatherapy blends, soothing hand creams, reviving shower gels and skin lotions. For the foodies in your life, a nourishing and healthy food hamper full of treats from your local farmers market or independent producer will go down a treat. Don’t forget to top off their unique hamper with a handmade gift tag.
Sponsor an animal
Wildlife and animal lovers might appreciate a gift that enables them to adopt and sponsor an animal’s upkeep and welfare. Many animal welfare charities provide sponsors with certificates, photos and updates of their animal off spring and in some cases it’s possible to visit the centre.
A mindful journal
Give a loved one a beautiful journal, which they can use to explore their thoughts, feelings and ideas. A daily writing practice, even if it’s just a few lines, can be deeply healing and revealing and is an effective way of finding a fresh perspective on life.
A book of memories
Gather some pictures and mementoes from your friend’s life, drawing upon the good times you’ve spent together, and present it in an album. It can take time to create, but you’ll be giving your friend a lasting treasure of memories that they can fondly look back on in years to come.
An experience to remember
The best presents you can give are often those that create long-lasting memories. Treat a loved one to an experience you know they’ll enjoy – think about something they’ve always wanted to do or a hobby they haven’t had the time to explore. Whether it’s a concert or theatre ticket, an afternoon of horse riding, a ride in a hot-air balloon, a guitar lesson or lunch in a fabulous location, these experiences are a lovely surprise.
For a truly extra-special gift, an experience that takes time, energy, thought and love is hard to beat. And it can cost next to nothing. Breathe’s idea of a heavenly gift? A night of shared stargazing, with a dear friend under the galaxy’s captivating constellations.
And finally…
It might seem like a given, but don’t forget to smile. It’s one of the loveliest gifts and when it comes from a stranger it can turn a miserable day into a magical one.
