Therapy-Based Gifts for the Holidays
Here is my second annual holiday gift idea list. The following are therapy-based ideas to share with your loved ones during the holiday. I hope you get inspired.
Books
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
This is a lovely read. It is in part autobiographical but also reads like a “how-to” book. I especially think it would be a great book for young adults because the advice she offers is so appropriate for what our young people are facing in today’s world. The overwhelm of social media, political unrest, global conflict, and environmental concerns often leave our young adults feeling apathetic and defeated. Heck, many people feel that way. This book provides anecdotal examples and advice such as focusing on what you can do and taking small steps. It is chock full of gems!
This Life of Mine: A Legacy Journal by Anne Phyfe Palmer
I have some clients who are in their 80’s. I love the work we do together because we spend much of our time reflecting and planning their legacy. This isn’t surprising based on Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development. Erikson was a psychologist who defined eight stages of life from “cradle to grave” taking into account biological, psychological, and social factors. The stage from 65 and older is Ego Integrity vs. Despair. Erikson explained this is a time to reflect on one’s life. If one’s reflection is happiness with their experiences and accomplishments, then they may feel “integrity” which is “a sense of coherence and wholeness.” If one’s reflection is full of regret and missed opportunities, one may feel “despair” during this time. I believe the reflection is super helpful either way as it allows time for remedy if needed or the joy of sitting in the satisfaction of a life lived well.
The above-noted journal is beautiful inside and out. The questions are thought-provoking and provide a wonderful guide toward reflection. It is a lovely way to have your parents or grandparents document the highlights of their life. Once the experiences are in this book, these stories become a priceless family legacy.
Travel Funds
This is a gift geared more toward experiences. My husband and I stopped giving each other material gifts a long time ago. We both value the idea of experiencing something together rather than another “thing.”
One of my favorite gifting ideas is creating a travel fund. I’ve done this with my family and my partner. We either collect in an envelope, a spreadsheet, or a separate savings account a running total of funds. The funds get deposited throughout the year for everything from birthdays to Mother’s Day to Christmas. It is a great way to earmark money specifically for a trip which is a shared experience.
This type of gift also allows for the joy of planning and imagining that happens as you build the funds. Each time you deposit the money you get to talk and dream about the upcoming travel.
May your holidays be filled with growth and exploration!