An Exceptional Holiday Gift (it’s not too early)

Some people think September is too soon to think about holiday gifts. But, if you want to create something special, September is a good time to start a personal project. The holidays are close enough to impose a deadline and far enough away that you’ll have time to flex your creativity.

Ideal gifts are personal. They come from the giver’s heart. And what’s more personal and heart-felt than a true story? Think about this question: What do you know about your grandparents’ or parents’ childhoods? If they are no longer alive, you’ll likely never know much about their experiences. But it isn’t too late for you. You can still give the gift of stories to your children or other family members.

Some people go into debt during the holidays, or they save up all year to buy gifts. But a story from you doesn’t cost much. For a couple of dollars, you can write a story in a notebook. With a computer, you can type and print your story for almost nothing. But the gift you create will be priceless!

If you need help with an idea to get started, ask yourself: What was my most memorable holiday? And then go deeper by asking:  What did I learn? How did that experience change me?

If you write a series of stories, look for themes to follow. Ask: What inspires me? How am I unique? Ponder your strengths and weaknesses. Was there ever a time when a strength or weakness created a wonderful or painful situation for you? What do you want people to know about you? What have you overcome during your life?

Once you’ve written a story, you can record yourself reading it into a recorder, or an app on your phone or computer. After you’re gone, your family will cherish an audio or video recording. But, if that seems daunting, why not ask a tech-savvy family member or friend to help?

If you’re really shy, or your family doesn’t do holiday gift giving, think about giving a gift of your stories to yourself. You might be surprised by your insights, what you’ll learn about you.

And if you’re not ready to create legacy stories (because you think you’re way too young—you’re not), why not consider helping an older person tell their stories? You can take dictation while they talk, or record them, or arrange for someone else to record them. Now that would be a precious gift—for you, for the storyteller, and for anyone who cares about them.

Custom gifts take time. So, you should get started. Now!