Bypass the ‘stuff’ this year. Re-think traditional gifts during this era of change.
As father’s day approaches, a common thought on people’s minds is “What is the best gift from the heart for dad this Father’s Day?”
But 2020, as compared to all other years, will make the answer to that question very different. Does dad need or even want to receive the most unique and perfectly suited gadget or thing this year? COVID-19 has caused us all to do many things differently. We shop differently, socialize differently, spend our time differently, and our ability to show our love with a physical hug is more than different. In fact a hug is gone altogether for the time being, unless of course we are living with the person.
A Time for Personal Reflection
On a positive note, there has been more time and reason for personal reflection and so giving a gift from the heart might be just the right thing to make this Father’s Day different than all others.
After much thought and reflection myself, I have come up with a creative idea for my dad this Father’s Day and I would like to share it with everyone. In fact, I feel so passionate about sharing it, I designed a gift you can give that requires only 10 minutes of your time to create. Please pass this along to others if you think they might benefit!
But first, let me explain how I came to this best gift from the heart for dad.
Every year I fall into the trap of needing to buy the perfect gift for both my dad and my husband, the father of my kids. You may think you have a hard time trying to find something ideal for the man who has everything or doesn’t want anything. Imagine having that dilemma times two… actually three!!
Why the multiple? Well, in addition to Father’s Day, my husband’s birthday falls within a few days of Father’s Day too. On top of that, he is someone who always says he wants and needs nothing. The challenge is that I know he doesn’t really mean it. It’s true that he doesn’t really want or need gadgets or stuff, but deep down he wants to be appreciated.
Society has made the practice of giving and getting ‘stuff’ the way to express appreciation for loved ones.
For both my husband and my father, I know that they would much prefer a thoughtful, heartfelt meaningful gift over stuff. A gift from the heart — expressions of appreciation are worth a hundred times more than the price of some neat gadget that you can purchase.
There was an interesting article that caught my attention that supports this thought. “7 Millionaires Reveal Their Favorite Father’s Day Gifts“. None of them said “stuff” or listed a single item. They were all about time, connecting and thoughtfulness.
This year I started the process of finding the best gift for dad much earlier than most years. I had a bit more time on my hands to do so. I was also determined to take a different approach and there are a few reasons for this:
- Shopping in stores is not an option. That’s pretty obvious, so I needed other ways to find inspiration and gift ideas;
- Google searches only result in the best gift ideas (gadgets and things) as per those who have mastered SEO (the Search Engine Optimization game). These searches don’t recommend ideas that reflect the best gifts for the unique individuals I am looking for. Only I can know what is best for them, and;
- I wanted something that shows I truly ‘see’ these important men in my life. It wanted to express my love and appreciation for who they are and how they have positively impacted my life and the lives of those around them. I wanted to create the best gift from the heart.
I have taken to heart all of the personal reflection that I have engaged in since COVID-19 hit, as well since the loss of my mother this March. ‘Stuff’ just doesn’t mean that much at the end of the day and especially at the end of one’s life. Instead, it’s the connections we have with people that makes our lives better. And I want to express that now, rather than waiting until it is too late. This is a true priority for me.
The best gift from the heart you can give dad for Father’s Day this year is one that involves personal reflection and expressions of appreciation.
I started the creative process a few weeks ago. I wrote a poem for my father that captures his essence as well as meaningful memories. These things will forever bring a smile to my face. My father is a very special person and I too am guilty of taking him granted. I thought I would take the time to personally reflect on how special a person he is and how he has made a huge difference in my life and the person I am today.
The world has caused us all to pause and be grateful for what we see.
Dad, The Apple Doesn’t Fall Too Far From the Tree LIFEBOOK
I see you dad, and thank you too — if not for you, I’d not be me.
Capture who they are — their true essence.
In the end, I created a poem that captures my father’s character and personality. It captures what I admire most, what I have learned from him and memories that make up my personal story. I then created a questionnaire for anyone to answer. With the answers, I can create a unique poem that reflects the special connection between a father and his son or daughter. This inspired me to create illustrations to accompany the personalized heartfelt poem and then I put it all together in a 24 page hardcover book. This is truly a one-of-a-kind gift that will have a huge impact and likely cause my dad to cry.
I showed the idea to my kids and they are excited to create one for their dad! Perfect. Now I have the absolute best gifts from the heart for Father’s Day. If you would like to create one too, I welcome you to answer the questionnaire. It is absolutely FREE to fill out. You may be inspired to create the best gift for the dads in your life on your own from the exercise. Or if you want to order a book, I will put it together for you. You can even add a couple of photos to it. Just check out our website.
This gift for Father’s Day was born from the love and affection I have for two men in my life that mean the world to me. They are both very different people and they both bring so much to my life. They have helped shape me into who I am today.
THANK YOU my dearest father, for everything you do,
Dad, The Apple Doesn’t Fall Too Far From the Tree
Thanks for all you’ve given me, thank you for just being you.
THANK YOU my dearest husband, for everything you do,
To my husband Jeff, with all my love, Heather
Thanks for all you’ve given me, thank you for just being you.
