Whether we give time or treasures, gifting is meant to sustain and nurture our most important relationships—to one another and the planet. This is the magic of gifting, and it can be simple and inexpensive. No Black Friday required.

Why do we give gifts during the winter holidays? There are, of course, many answers to this question. And they mostly boil down to historical traditions of sharing abundance during the darkest days of the year.

That abundance often took the form of food, candles to light the dark, small amounts of money, good luck talismans, and sweets—which once were rare. Whatever we gave, we did so to celebrate and sustain our communities and families. 

Now, sustainability has become a buzzword for “eco-friendly” or “green.” And those concepts are important facets of how we can sustain as a species on the planet. It’s much more than that too—a web that ties eco-friendly practices to human relationships at the family and community level.  

That’s why gift-giving season is a key moment in the year to consider sustainability. What we give and how we give can nurture our relationships, communities and planet. And it doesn’t require a lot of money, a trip to the mall, or a cyber sale. Yes you can enjoy those aspects of giving. But you can also skip it. 

Gift giving is meant to bring joy to recipient and giver alike. Here are 10 ways to give a joyful gift that sustains. 

Gift with love languages

Did you know there are at least Five Love Languages and only one of them is “receiving gifts.” If you aren’t familiar with the love languages, take the free quiz with the people closest to you and share the results with one another. 

You’ll find that some of those closest to you prefer acts of service and would be delighted to have you cook them a special meal, clean and decorate the house, or resole their favorite boots.  Maybe a child in your life most craves quality time and would value a day of fun with you. Perhaps your best friend lights up with words of affirmation and would treasure a handwritten, heartfelt letter. 

The simple act of taking the time to learn and acknowledge one another’s love language can strengthen your closest ties. 

Take the free quiz and pass it on.  

Give the gift of experience

When you look back on your fondest memories, what do you value most about those times? What made them so memorable? Who was there? How did you feel? 

In so many cases, the answer involves enjoying the company of another person, experiencing something unique, learning something new, or achieving something important. There may have been a gift involved, but that gift was likely memorable in that it contributed to an experience. The gift may have been a telescope, for example, but the memory was of you and someone special gazing at the stars. 

Giving experiences can take more time to plan and execute than a trip to the store for a gift. The feeling and the memory can last a lifetime. 

A few example experiences:

• Draw a town treasure map or set up a scavenger hunt that leads to your favorite community spaces. See who scores the best $10 find at the local thrift mall, enjoy hot chocolate at your favorite cafe, go on a leaf hunt at the park, and top it off with a home cooked meal. 

• Take your favorite friend camping, just the two of you. Build a fire, roast s’mores and remember all your favorite times together. 

• Throw a soup and board game potluck. 

• Go full kid mode with your favorite adult—play minigolf, go roller skating, make friendship bracelets, eat pizza and gummy worms. Ask yourself what your friend’s inner 10-year-old would enjoy, and do that! 

Go ahead and shop—but keep it local and small

There are more than 31 million small businesses in the U.S., according to the Small Business Administration. You can probably find a small business near you that sells just what you’re looking for—from handmade candles to clothing, cookies, coffee and more. 

And although small businesses are – well – small, they make a huge impact. 

The Small Business Administration’s; 2022 fact sheet states that, “small businesses generated 12.9 million net new jobs, meaning small businesses have accounted for 66 percent of employment growth over the last 25 years. 

More than large businesses, small business owners are more likely to be families, women, immigrants and people of color. They also tend to stay local, hire local, and support local civic life. That community connection keeps small businesses accountable to and engaged with the communities in which they operate. 

According to Ashoka Changemakers, a “global network of social entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, policy makers and activists” small and medium-sized businesses tend to be more environmentally friendly, because these businesses “typically have a deep connection to their communities’ and environments’ needs, and therefore often have an incentive to be good stewards of their surrounding environment.” 

So, if you’re looking to purchase gifts that support and sustain local relationships and the environment, skip Black Friday and hit Small Business Saturday instead!

What are the ways you sustain your relationships during the holiday season? We’d love to hear from you!