Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. It's hard to believe December is already here and the holidays are only 3 short weeks away! It's heartening to see that many of you have already taken advantage of your generous holiday subscriber discounts. For those of you who haven't yet, there's still plenty of time and there will be additional offers and discounts as we get closer to Christmas, but if you're considering Dropwise for some of your holiday gift giving don't delay for too long. Your F*REE shipping offer is good through the 17th which is generally the recommended cut-off date to ensure timely arrival of orders for the holidays.
I also want to share some exciting news with you … Dropwise products are now available on Amazon.com through the Amazon Marketplace. Please consider writing a brief review of our products or service on Amazon to help facilitate the purchase decisions of new customers who are finding out about us for the first time. Just go to Amazon.com, search for Dropwise in the Health & Personal Care section, and when you find a product you're familiar with or like, click on it and scroll down the page until you find a button that says "Create your own review" or a checkbox to Rate this Item. Your support is much appreciated.
If you're feeling a little stressed or anxious about finding the right gifts this holiday season, I hope you'll enjoy this week's article on gift giving. Don't forget to consult our Holiday Gift Guide. for some ideas too!
Yours in health and prosperity,
Donya
p.s. If you like our products then help us spread the word! Follow us on Twitter or become a fan of Dropwise on Facebook.
Holiday Gift Giving: Getting Behind the True Intention of Why We Give
When it comes to giving gifts, it's the thought that counts … or does it? We've all been on the receiving end, at one time or another, of gifts that have left us scratching our heads wondering what on earth the gift-giver was thinking when they decided to bestow this particular item on us.
For a lot of people, giving gifts, especially during the holidays, is an obligation rather than a sincere act of love, kindness, generosity or gratitude. How else to explain those totally random gifts that have little practical or sentimental value?
Often times we use gift giving as a way to over-compensate for some perceived lack of self-worth or adequacy. When we feel "less than" about ourselves, we tend to spend more on gifts in the hopes of gaining the love and approval we seek from others. How many times have you been shopping at a store during the holidays and found yourself on line behind someone at the register who appears to have gone stark-raving mad? They've loaded their carts to the max --as though they were in a shopping spree and their lives depended on grabbing the most items possible in the shortest amount of time. Gift giving when viewed in the context of this prism becomes a futile exercise in self-redemption via crass commercialism --after all, imagine the disappointment of this person's family and friends if they didn't show up on the holidays with a boatload of gifts!
Then there are people who feel the need to keep score . . . are you one of those? You are if you wait to see who gives you a gift first before reciprocating, make decisions about who to gift based on historical performance (i.e. who gave you a gift the previous year), or you aim to maintain parity in your gift giving --meaning you always give gifts of approximately the same or perceived value as the ones you receive.
All this mental score-keeping is time-consuming, exhausting, and distracts us from the true intention of gift-giving --acknowledging those we love and care about. When giving gifts starts to feel like a chore or an obligation, that's the time to re-evaluate your gift-giving strategy! Why do you give gifts? Is it to fill an ego-based need? Is the real motivation to make yourself feel better or to make someone else happy? What if you let your ego get out of the way and focus on what would make the other person happy based on what they actually need or want.
A gift is your way of expressing how you feel about another person –-your way of showing them gratitude for having them in your life. The best gift you can give is the gift of sharing yourself or your feelings with someone --being present with them in a way that reminds them that they mean something to you. Here's a quick look at some gift ideas that can support the real intention of giving:
Gifts of Experiences
There's something deeply satisfying and gratifying about sharing experiences with someone you care about. It builds and strengthens the bond between you. It can be something simple like taking them out for dinner and a movie, going to a concert, play, or sporting event together, or doing something more involved like spending a day hiking or exploring in nature, getting pampered at a Spa, a visit to the local museum, or volunteering for an event. The emphasis should be on togetherness --sharing the experience rather than just handing them a gift certificate or pair of tickets to something.
Gifts from the Heart
Gifts from the heart are the most meaningful and can take on many forms: gifts of time, love or support (baby-sitting, house-sitting, pet-sitting, tech support for the computer-challenged, gardening or decorating advice, cooking lessons, house-cleaning, coffee or a meal together). Think of something your giftee needs, could really use, or you know would make them feel good. Start by asking them 'What do you need?' or 'What can I help you create?' This way you can help them do or create something that's important or meaningful to them. You're building on their idea rather than on an idea of your own which may not be as important to them.
If time is a major challenge, then other heart-centered gifts include contributions to charitable causes that are important to the giftee, or gifts from companies that tithe or support similar causes.
Handmade Gifts
Another great way to show someone you care is by using your talents to make them a gift. Great handmade gifts include food (jellies, jams, infused culinary oils and vinegars, all manner of dessert), bath and body items (soaps, candles, perfumes, lip balms, lotions and creams), clothing (any form of knitwear, silkscreened or hand-dyed clothing), jewelry, accessories, home décor, pet accessories, other craft items (photos, drawings, paintings, scrap books, etc.). If you don't have the time or skill then consider buying handmade gifts --it's not as personal as something that's made by you but it still holds more value than your run-of-the-mill store-bought items.
Consider stepping outside your box of giving to people you know and consider giving or doing something significant for someone you don't know --someone in need. If you look at your core intention in giving someone a gift, then the process should be effortless and rewarding. And if you don't expect something in return, then it doesn't matter who you gift!
Here are some resources you can consult for gift ideas:
For gifts to charitable causes, consult the Charity Navigator Holiday Giving Guide to help you evaluate different charities and aid organizations and make the most of your contributions.
For handmade and green gifts that make a difference, shop WorldofGood.com --a shopping site with a treasure trove of over 20,000 ethically-sourced, fair trade, and eco-friendly gifts and goods from around the world. And don’t forget to consult Etsy.com –-a shopping site of only handmade goods in a variety of product categories.
For gifts to people in need, take a look at Kiva. Championed by former president Bill Clinton, this organization lets you use your money to make micro-loans to entrepreneurs in poor and rural parts of the world with the goal of helping them achieve economic independence and improved quality of life. Another great option in this category is Heifer International.
Copyright 2009 Dropwise Essentials
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.
Loading... Please wait...
Return to Newsletter Archive
Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.
