It’s the Friday before Christmas and it’s a good bet that you may have finished buying gifts for everyone on your list.
But there’s still time to think about buying one more gift.
This year you may want to put a special twist on your usual gift giving by buying a present for a loved one or friend who has died.
On the face of it, the idea may sound a little strange not really.
I saw this wonderful idea recently tweeted by Grief Compass in a series called the 12 Holidays of Grief and thought I would share it with you.
No matter what the occasion, buying a present for someone shows them how much you care; how fond you are of them.
Gift giving also deepens our emotional connection to others.
Grief Compass suggests that you find something that the loved one or friend would’ve liked or that reflects their personality and passions. It can be big or it can be small.
Then go ahead and buy it. Wrap it.
Then, donate that gift to someone in need.
It’s a healing idea that builds on the philosophy of paying it forward.
Giving can inspire giving.
I don’t know about you but while I am out shopping, I always come upon things that I would love to buy for a friend or a loved one who is no longer with me. Things that bring back warm memories and remind me of them.
The habit of thinking about someone you loved or a friend you cared about doesn’t automatically stop because they are no longer with you.
Right??
In many ways you are giving a gift to yourself while also helping someone else.
It has been a tough year for many people and a small gesture such as this could bring a bit of brightness to a holiday season that has felt fragile and a bit tarnished.
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