šŸŽ What someone grieving really needs

This is Better Gift Coach, where we help you look beyond gifts that are kind gestures to consider what people really need during lifeā€™s rough patches.

BGC Gift Opportunity Glasses In Action

In todayā€™s edition, we highlight a story from Better Gift Coach subscriber, Marcey. As the owner of a productivity training & coaching company (helloraderco.com), it doesnā€™t surprise me at all that Marcey gives gifts that cut to the core of what someone needs when dealing with a loss.

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Related to todayā€™s bereavement focus, but not directly related to gifts, hereā€™s an easy-to-digest list of ways to support grievers.

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Please donā€™t hesitate to reply todayā€™s email with more of your bereavement/memorial gift ideas. Iā€™d love to share your ideas with the community. These are important gifts that we donā€™t often actively plan ahead forā€¦

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Estimated read time: 2 minutes & 59 seconds

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THE GIFT STORY

šŸŽTHE GIFT:

The ā€œin the trenches with you" Gift

When my friend's mother was in hospice, I knew she needed help packing up their house in a different way than a mover or a friend could provide. I paid for five hours from a personal organizing service ($227), which she used to help take down and pack away all the holiday decorations and sentimental items she needed to go through.

Marcey from North Carolina

Your stories inspire others
to be better gift-givers.
Reply with your story of a gift given/received
~ or ~ click the button below

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šŸŒ® WHY THIS GIFT IS GREAT:

  • Focuses on needs

  • Possible last-minute gift

  • At its core, itā€™s the gift of saving time & energy

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MAKE THIS GIFT YOUR OWN

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šŸ’”TIPS FOR YOUR GIFT:

Asking permission:

  • Before gifting a professional service, you should probably ask permission

  • Have an honest convo with them to discern if they truly want this gift

Avoid asking ā€œhow can I help?ā€

My friend Becky Sansbury wrote a book - After the Shock: Getting you Back on The Road to Resilience When Crisis Hits You Head On. In it, she says not to ask "what do you need" or "how can I help?". That puts the responsibility on the grieving person to come up with something. Make sure to offer help with something specific."

Marcey

Volunteering yourself:

  • Instead of contracting a professional, you can offer your personal assistance

  • Only offer your assistance in areas in which your inexperience wonā€™t be an additional burden

Possible assistance beyond organizing services:

  • As you consider how to assist, here are some additional considerations:

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Please reply with any questions/insight

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šŸš€PUTTING THE GIFT IDEA INTO ACTION:

  • Who in your life has a loved one who is nearing end of life?___

  • What assistance will be your go-to offer to a grieving person?___


šŸ“‚Ā If this gift idea is save-worthy, create a ā€œGift Ideasā€ inbox folder & file it away for future use ~or~ find it again in our library.

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COMMUNITY FUNĀ 

ā–¶ļøFORWARD THIS GIFT IDEA TO:

  • A close group of friends

And introduce them to your favorite 1-minute-a-week shortcut to always having awesome gift ideas well in advance. They can read past editions and subscribe here.

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āœØBONUS BEREAVEMENT GIFTS IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY:

I think this framed recording of a loved oneā€™s voicemail is a truly unique memorial gift.

If you want to show a grieving person just how much you care, set a calendar reminder and give them a gift to mark the one-year anniversary of the passing.

ā€œWind chimes or a stone statue of an Angel or saint that can be kept in a garden, backyard or under a tree to remind someone of their loved one.ā€ - Mary

Thanks, Mary. Gardening stones like these are similar wonderful gifts.

ā€œI have been giving a memorial Christmas ornament. I don't make it a surprise because I ask the specifics of the name (birth name vs "Nana") and the memorial line, "In loving Memory", etc.ā€ - Karen

Thanks, Karen. I believe youā€™re referring to ornaments like these

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šŸ‘‚LET'S HEAR FROM YOU:

After losing a loved one, which gift would you most prefer from close friends/family?

Answer to see what the rest of the community preferred

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

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šŸ”SEEKING GIFT STORIES FOR:

Please reply to this email if you have stories of awesome gifts to share with the community that fall under the below topics:

  • Graduation gifts

  • Ready-to-give gifts to always have on hand

  • Motherā€™s day gifts (never too early for gift ideas to make moms smile)

Thank you!

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šŸ˜†GIF/MEME:

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Here for you under any gifting circumstance,
Patrick Kucharson
Better Gift Coach

P.S. On a separate note, who gave a loved one a birthday gift last year that was a flop? Reply with your biggest gifting challenges and I will help you land a gift idea worthy of being featured in one of our future newsletters.

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What Did You Think of This Week's Newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

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A SUBSCRIBER'S GIFT IDEA VARIATION:

In response to šŸŽĀ Keeping connected - Fairy Godmother Style

ā€œPatrick I love this idea and I do two variations on it. Whenever I see my granddaughter I take her a book or two. I do see her more often than once a year but not more than 6 or 7 times. I also subscribed her to a club that sends her a STEM project every other month - fun and educational things to build or make. Thanks gift coach - always great ideas.ā€ - Joanne

Itā€™s folks like you who share your gift ideas who make this community more valuable for everyone, Joanne. THANK YOU.


Want more? Here are a few of our past popular posts:
šŸŽĀ Making gift cards fun
šŸŽĀ Thoughtful, free, ready in 15
šŸŽĀ One gift to make many people smile

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