The Gift No One Wraps But Everyone Wants

The most meaningful gift we can give each other — and ourselves — is time.

Working to earn money and buying something for someone can represent time. But actually spending time together is far more valuable. Often, the people we love would prefer less stuff and more of us.

Even adding time to a gift transforms it. Buying your granddaughter a Frisbee is nice. Taking the time to throw it with her is priceless. She gets more of you — and you get more of her.

More and more, people are focusing on experiences instead of things. Perhaps giving your adult children trips to join you on holiday rather than physical presents. Yes, we give travel — but we receive time, laughter, and connection in return.

Experiences don’t have to be extravagant. A home-cooked meal, baking favourite cookies, or working on a project together can be just as meaningful. Helping your grandfather to build shelves for the garage, creating a photo album with grandma, filled with shared memories and handwritten notes - this is what lasting memories are made from.

Marketing pressures us to believe we “should” buy gifts for everyone. But at a recent Christmas gathering, the cousins realized their real gift was simply showing up. They travelled long distances, set aside work, and spent late nights laughing and reconnecting. No extra purchases required.

Let’s release the expectation that love must be wrapped. Being together is enough.

We can also give ourselves the gift of time, devoting more time to health, curiosity, family, and friends. Instead of working more to buy more, perhaps it’s time to reconsider what truly matters. What if we worked a little less, accumulated a little less, and made more space for shared meals, long conversations, unhurried walks, and laughter around the table?

Cook together. Watch a movie and talk about it afterwards. Play a game. Sit across from someone you love and truly listen. Notice what lights them up. Make them feel seen.

Choosing presence over presents may be one of your better moves.

— The Procenko Group

One of your better moves.