By Eve Bell

“I read a book about that.”

This is something I say often during conversations with friends. It’s become a bit of a joke now. It is always met with, “Of course you have.”

This week, we were talking about Black Friday and the barrage of ads screaming at us from every direction. My feed is an endless parade of cheap gadgets and novelty items featuring golf or football. None are my hobbies but there we go. Products that are fun for about five minutes before breaking or ending up shoved in a cupboard.

Cue me, casually bringing up The Gift by Lewis Hyde.

The author writes about two kinds of property: the commodity and the gift. Commodities are bought, hoarded, and eventually resold or discarded. They’re often things we own for a while, but they don’t mean so much.

Gifts, on the other hand, have a magic all their own. They’re given freely, with no strings attached, and their power lies in what they create.

“When the gift moves between hands, it creates bonds of connection,”

That line has been stuck in my head as I start my Christmas shopping.

Gifts That Move Us

I like to think of myself as a thoughtful gift-giver. I love the challenge of finding the perfect thing for each person. Something that will light them up and feel personal. But at this time of year when the list is long and the deadlines loom, it’s so easy to fall back on convenience.

Yet, when I think about the gifts that have stayed with me, they’re rarely “things.” They’re gifts that created connection.

Last year, my brother gave me tickets to a George Michael tribute act. It wasn’t just a night out. It was like a doorway to the past. We laughed about how he used to tease me for loving Wham. I danced like I was 8, singing every word to songs. We were right back there in our childhood home. It wasn’t a thing, it was an experience, and it brought us closer. That night became a memory we’ll carry, the gift moving between us long after the music stopped.

Another year, my dad received a very different kind of gift. When my daughter was little, she decided giving kisses was not her thing (they still aren’t). So I put lipstick on her, and she kissed a piece of paper instead. We gave it to my Dad, her Pops. That simple gesture – a single kiss captured on paper became a treasured item. He still has it.

What these gifts taught me is that it’s not about the thing itself. It’s about what it inspires: laughter, connection, a moment that lingers long after the unwrapping.

How to Give Differently

This year, I’m going to try and lean into Hyde’s idea of gifts that “move.” Instead of reaching for convenience, I’m asking myself a question:

Will this gift create connection?

Some of the best gifts I’ve received, and given, have been simple but meaningful:

• A handmade mug from a place someone visited. Every time I use it, I feel like I’m sharing a cup of tea with that person.
• A book with a handwritten note inside explaining why they chose it for me.
• A plant or seeds, something that grows over time, reminding me of the giver.
• Tickets to an experience, creating a memory that lasts longer than any object.
• A letter, saying things we often forget to say.
• A Handmade Blanket or Scarf, something you’ve made or sourced from a local maker. These gifts carry warmth, both literal and emotional.

These gifts don’t clutter cupboards. They connect.

Share Your Story

I thought it would be so lovely to start a thread in the comments. We can read about the gifts that have stayed with us long after they were given. A moment, a gesture, or a simple gift that brought you closer to someone. What’s the gift you’ll always remember?

. We could all use a little reminder of the power of connection. Especially during the season of madness!