Black Friday Blackout
Here’s your alternative gift giving list
Are you fed up hearing about Jeff Bezos swimming in obscene amounts of money? Has Greta Thurburg got you guilt tripping about your way of life? Is Marie Kondo not doing her magic on your overstuffed drawers? Are you looking for some meaning during this over-commercialized holiday season?
We’re either maxed out on shtuff or dead broke. There’s an explosion of clutter inside our homes and garbage outside our homes. This, and the jolt some of us got to our value system these past 10 months have gotten us to take a hard look at the “giving season”. Confronted with the unforeseen by-products of the pandemic- the lost jobs, the bankrupt businesses, and a very uncertain future- if we are able to give, we need to be even more creative at it. So, for those trying to wean off Amazon and big-box retailers, allow me to offer a few suggestions for Christmas 2020:
Give the gift of health. Last year, I gave my husband and three kids a biofeedback session, which what I’d call the ultimate check-up. They were tested for heavy metals, vitamin deficiencies and any hidden pathology, serious or not. This was followed up with a complete vitamin/supplement protocol. I’ve also given or have received shiatsu sessions, hot rock massages, and even a colon cleansing. As “eeew” as the last item sounds, I can’t say enough about this awesome therapeutic. For more expensive procedures, people can pool in for costly procedures like major dental work. For smaller budgets, you can get an aromatherapy starter kit. And of course, nothing beats a foot rub, if you’re really short on dough.
Dematerialize your gift. This is one of my favorites at the moment. Spotify has family plans, so everybody can sooth their soul with music. Among the many amazing online courses out there, I have given and received the Masterclass series (look for two-for-one deals), Jen Esquer’s Mobility Method, Food Matters TV, The Truth about Detox, and many others. You can find something at all price points.
Regift what you’ve got…but with love. A few years ago at a Christmas lunch, an inventive friend of mine, beaming with pride, regifted books and CDs that she carefully curated for us, with a beautifully written message saying why she thought we’d like her selection. It certainly brings new life to old words: I read each word as if she picked it out for me. I now occasionally regift clothing, household objects, baubles and other things that I have trouble parting with.
Give a grove of trees. This was a brilliant option at my niece’s baby shower two months ago. My French bank card wasn’t accepted by the American online vendor, but the option of planting trees in the baby’s name was, and this really appealed to my values. There are many environmental concerns that you can donate to on behalf of someone you care for.
Support local artisans. Giving art can be tricky- what appeals to you may not to someone else. That’s why a gift certificate for a work of art is a safer bet- you let them decide. My parents-in-law once invited my husband and me to a local art show, then surprised us by telling us to pick the painting we liked. As we live in the cold, grey north, we chose a sunny painting from the Provence region. Art classes running from single sessions at a pottery studio to wine & painting party to a year-long course are good ideas for those itching to express themselves.
Support alternative journalism- Those of you who are thoroughly fed up with mainstream media and have fallen in love with an independent source could pitch in to support their hard work. This runs the whole spectrum from left to right, so there’s something for everyone. Among the many tireless journalists I’d suggest gifting a donation to are Glenn Greenwald, Ben Swann, James Corbett, Richard Medhurst and Polly Media. If that special person in your life treasures freedom of speech, then the best gift you can give this year is a contribution towards Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange’s legal defense fund. For those unfamiliar with Mr Assange, he has been confined (first as an exile, then as a prisoner) for the crime of publishing embarrassing leaked information about government misdeeds across the spectrum and around the globe. His fate will be decided upon on January 4th in what has turned out to be a kangaroo court. Your gift may turn the tide.
Test out a personal trainer. Last year my son started showing interest in boxing, so I got him a couple of sessions with Karlito, a local professional boxer. Sign-ups for the year-long courses are usually in September, so a mid-winter test drive was perfect. This year, he has expressed interest in tennis, so I will probably get him a couple of lessons with a top-level coach. Covid regulations have hit sports clubs (and their personnel) hard, so this is a win-win.
Or give them music lessons. Confinement got a lot of would-be musicians dusting off their instruments. With a lot of music teachers (who are often in bands and orchestras) seeing their livelihoods- and paychecks- diminish buying few private lessons would be a boost to both the budding and the professional musician.
Make a donation on behalf the recipient. (just make sure it is something your friend agrees with). Obvious donations are often to made to well-known associations fighting cancer or poverty, but I think it’s good to research the organization before you donate. Many are not getting the money to where it’s needed the most. Two health-oriented charities that come off the top of my head are Children’s Health Defense and Independent Cancer Research Foundation.
Give the gift of healthy food. Food co-ops enable both the producer to earn more and the consumer to pay less. These are member-based organizations, with some of them requiring volunteering to help with the operations. However, some just require an annual fee, which could make a nice gift. As there are few middlemen involved, these often deal with local produce. Check here to see if there is one near you.
Appeal to their inner Julia Child. The minute someone I know expresses an interest in cooking, I get them a voucher for a cooking class. My daughter learned to make macarons and a fancy pièce montée at Le Nôtre, while my girlfriends treated me to a three-course birthday dinner lesson that involved several glasses of wine. Once again, people offering these courses are taking a hit with these draconian sanitary restrictions, so buy a voucher now to help keep their businesses afloat.
Offer gift coupons from local merchants. The one-two punch of Amazon-Covid restrictions has pummeled local business- this is a way you can help out. I found out that there are certain purveyors that have no clue how to create gift packages. Help them out by suggesting what you’d like to give or even receive yourself (and then suggest that to someone who asks you what you want). I’m compiling such a list for the upcoming Metz en Transition podcast, and have helped an organic rancher, a vegetarian caterer, a local organic foods store and a puppet-master and an artist create gift ideas (workshops, gift baskets, gift certificates…), which I will compile in a growing year-round catalog for our website. You can even suggest that two shops work together to create a mixed gift basket. This is a common practice on rue Taison, the quaint shopping street in my neighborhood which consists entirely of small, independent businesses. Thanks to this, they have remained vibrant in spite of all the closures of the big chains further down the road.
Get ’em tickets to a show. One of the best gifts I ever gave was a night out to see the Belgian musician/performance artist Stromae. It was a gift to my 11-year-old son…and myself. It was not only an epic concert, but a wonderful shared experience. Giving culture has all price points- from a fancy opera to a community playhouse. You can splurge on season tix or purchase a single event- not only will you be offering lasting memories, but you will be supporting the arts, whose budgets are often the first to get axed. Kick in babysitting if needed.
How about a DIY gift? This is where you can be really creative. Here are some things I have either given, received or heard others receiving: A booklet of vouchers for shoulder rubs, coupons for pedicures, 3 dozen homemade cookies, a dinner theme night, a personalized wine tasting. If you plan in advance, you can paint a picture, record a video of a song or skit (here’s an excellent one by my neighbors), or create a journal of thoughtful anecdotes, photos and other things that remind you of that special person you are giving to.
Give your time. This is probably one of the most precious gifts you can give. If one day we are finally allowed to see whomever we wish, take advantage of this new-found freedom to spend time with your grandparents, to play with your niece, to lend an ear to a homeless vet, to help out your community.
DON’T DO: Amazon. For long-distance gift-givers, contact a local independent shop near the recipient and see if at least you pay for a gift card that they can collect on site. I did this with my Goddaughter for her birthday. I phoned up Hicklebee’s, this lovely children’s bookstore back in California, and we worked out a selection that personalized what I wanted to give.
Sure it’s a little more work and a little more expensive, but I can rest assured I’m not feeding the Bezos beast. Try to do the same before we have no more choice.
