Is it really November? I’m amazed at how time flies. I was convinced time would seem slowed down since we are in quarantine, but the year really said otherwise. With Thanksgiving approaching, you’re probably wondering how you can happily celebrate gratitude in the midst of the pandemic. Since we are surrounded by so much negativity and pain, we tend to take the people in our life for granted. The friends that bless us with their attention and time, that call us any time they can to catch up. Your family that has been there in times of need and cared for you. Even in this season of life where it feels like our world is crumbling, the feeling of gratitude for loved ones is a light in the darkness. No matter where you are in this time, it is important to remember that gratitude is still relevant, still necessary, still important. These treasured people in your life are what make it all worthwhile.Â
So, knowing this Thanksgiving will be a one-of-a-kind experience, how about showing your gratitude through a thoughtful gift? I’m sharing three covid-friendly ideas for gifts you can give to your loved ones:
- Handwritten LettersÂ
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I don’t know about you, but I don’t think there is anything more beautiful than receiving a heartfelt letter from a loved one. The thought of someone taking a portion of their time to hand write their feelings down on paper is heartwarming. You don’t really get that same feeling of anticipation with instant messaging, so how about writing a note for a special person in your life? You don’t have to be fancy by buying a card at your nearest store. It can be any piece of paper you have. You can start by writing down the ways they have blessed your life this year and how much you appreciate them. Have a special and fond memory of them? You can write anything you feel tugging your heart. If you want to get creative, how about using pages of unused books and making an envelope out of them? You can even cut the page into shapes and paste them like decorations around the letter. A sweet gesture I’ve learned is placing any tea bag I have at home into the letter for tea-lovers. For those with a sweet-tooth, placing sweets is a huge plus. Remember, it does not have to be anything grand; it is the thought that counts.Â
 - Care Baskets
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We talk about how quarantine can be a time for self-care, but are we really taking time for ourselves? Everyone needs time to care for themselves mentally, physically and spiritually. A care basket, though it has “basket” in the name, can be a box you’ve received an order in. For decoration, if you have any colored construction paper from a sibling’s school project leftovers or the old book pages I mentioned earlier, you can paste it around the box to decorate it. It’s all about reusing the items you have at home! Inside, you can place items like their favorite baked goods. If they enjoy doing needlework as a hobby, how about placing some leftover yarn from the last scarf you knit? Something I want to do myself is placing one of my favorite films in it, so they can watch and enjoy something I love. The ideas are endless! A care basket would be a perfect gift to leave at someone’s doorstep, serving as both contactless delivery and a huge surprise.
- Video Calls
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Before you start thinking about Zoom fatigue and the cringy flashbacks of awkward breakout room sessions, think about the blessing of having these video chat platforms. We all so badly want to hang out with our squad or go reunite with all of our family during the break, but Covid regulations don’t allow us to. Any video chat platform gives us the opportunity to be as close to our loved ones as possible. Whether it be facetime on your phone or using your school Zoom account, the small gesture of time and attention means so much to a person who cherishes you. It’s really not all about giving someone something physical, sometimes a touching video call is the best gift you can give.
These gifts seem simple, but they hold deep meaning. This Thanksgiving, delight in the littlest of things, such as the letter you’re sending to your friend 15 minutes away from you, or the small care basket you’ll drop off at your cousin’s house. All of these little offerings of gratitude will be the only things that matter in the end. Enjoy the people who shower you with love this holiday season.Â