The trend at the moment among people of all ages is to give back. Paying it forward or ensuring that lifestyles are about making others happy by sharing and giving, rather than the conspicuous consumption of previous decades. The manner in which people give has also changed and the move is towards giving things that matter or have meaning rather than simply meet a particular desire.
Times have changed dramatically over the last 24 months and a recent trend has been the increased gifting or giving. Either as a process of special day gifting between friends and family as well as between people who don’t know each other. Be it the gift of time, information or knowledge, or a special treat. Giving is a growing trend and the main reason for this is arguably the feel-good factor.
It feels good to give and as such in a time of uncertainty and reduced human contact, by giving of oneself or volunteering you are able to feel a sense of connection and involvement, which is beneficial for personal well-being.
Gifts are best when they mean something to both the person giving and the one receiving the gift. The idea is to spend a little time to build an understanding of the person that you are giving the gift to and then it would follow that what you purchase or make and decide to give to them is something that carries meaning. A great example of a sustainable meaningful gift is a crystal photo - it will depict a person or setting that invokes personal memories and will also last a lifetime. It’s unique and meaningful.
A gift that the receiver will use and enjoy are top of the giving list and will definitely form a large part of the giving process for birthdays, anniversaries and more. Anything that the person will use is worth receiving.
Giving time has become a popular option among people of all backgrounds. It's done as people either volunteering formally or simply helping those who they know need it, the old lady down the street, or going to the local soup kitchen to help out. It’s all a process of giving and feels a great deal better than receiving.
Knowledge sharing has become one of the most significant forms of giving that there is in the data age. Whether it is online through Massive Online Open Courses, free webinars and seminars or simply providing advice and information on a local level to those who need it.
Giving is better than receiving, yet it is still important to ensure that the type of gift is appropriate for the receiver so that it will actually serve to improve their lifestyle and prove useful and meaningful. Unwanted or unused gifts are still able to generate the feel-good factor, but this will always be somewhat superficial unless the gift is actually valued and used.
