Widows Holiday Gifting

I know that the holidays are hard and for widows holiday gifting is just another stress they face.  But, a heartfelt gift has the power to change, to heal, and to make someone feel cared for.

Holiday Gifting Tips:

• Consider a gift of an experience rather than an object.  Experiences make the gift more memorable.

• Head off seasonal stress with a vanilla-scented candle.  The gift of various aromas can affect our moods, heart rate, blood pressure and so much more.

• Do you have over sized gifts to wrap?  A perfect solution is plastic Christmas tablecloths from the Dollar Store.  Easy and festive tablecloths are very affordable.

• During the final days before Christmas there are often buy one – get one free sales.  Take advantage even if you save the second one for another time.

• Go ahead and re-gift something you got the previous year and didn’t use.  Just be careful that it doesn’t go back to the same person or even to that person’s social group.

• Nothing beats a heartfelt gift that you made or that you can attach a sentimental story too.

Even more important are the gifts of the season that are free:

A widow needs to give the “gift of understanding” to family and friends that just don’t understand your grief journey.  After all, if they have their loved ones how could they possible understand your broken heart?

A widows holiday gifting isn’t complete without the “gift of forgiveness”.  First give this gift to yourself.  Forgive as if you were your best friend – because you are.  However, forgiveness should not be given blindly to others.  Always understand that after becoming a widow relationships change and even when we forgive, we should not stay where we are not respected.

Lastly, this holiday season “compliment freely” as it not only makes others feel better, it also lightens your own spirit.  Remember how you felt when someone (friend or stranger) gave you a sincere compliment?  So, give compliments freely – you never know what it will mean to that person.  It could be just what they need to hear and it’s such an easy “gift” to give.

To Our Shared Journey,                                                                                      

Mary Francis is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®,  Certified Law of Attraction Facilitator,  Early Intervention Field Traumatology (EIFT) and Author/Founder of “The Sisterhood of Widows”