The Priceless Gift of Time

Have you ever enjoyed the feeling of receiving and giving a gift? Well, believe it or not, but your cavemen ancestors also enjoyed that same feeling. For thousands of years, humans have always had a consistent love for gifts, and for good reason. Beyond the physical gift itself, it also conveys the love and sincerity we have for the people we dearly care about. That’s what makes it a beautiful art and act.

However, if you thought that humans have already perfected the art and act of gift-giving, then you couldn’t be more wrong. Many times, you might have received a gift yourself that you weren’t fond of. On the other hand, perhaps you gave a gift that someone on the receiving end wasn’t happy with.

In simpler terms, gift-giving can be hard. But it’s only as hard as you make it out to be. In reality, there are so many fascinating observations about gift-giving that can make the process much easier for you to accomplish. To make the next gift you purchase a meaningful one that will strengthen your relationships with your loved ones, take a look below at some of the most interesting facts about gift-giving.

The Top 6 Facts About Gift-Giving

1. You don’t have to spend money

Here’s some food for thought — “The best things in life are free. The second-best things are very, very expensive.”

That quote was said by none other than Coco Chanel, who is one of the most luxurious handbag designers in the world. Coming from her, you can rest assured knowing that gift-giving is far more than about how much you spend on a person. The most important thing about the act of gift-giving is the emotional sentiment behind it, not about how many dollar bills are on the price tag. As long as you put thought and love into your gift, you can make anyone feel valued and cared for.

2. A Present Doesn’t Necessarily Mean a Gift

You can blame the English language, but most of us have all been guilty of using the terms ‘present’ and ‘gift’ interchangeably. Although it’s not technically wrong, you can use the term ‘gift’ on a more profound level. Beyond applying it to physical gifts, you can also apply it to some of life’s greatest assets. For instance, time is a gift.

3. Almost Half of The Recipients Aren’t Happy with Their Gift

We know — this can be painful to hear, especially if you consider yourself an avid gift-giver. However, the statistics don’t lie. Even though over half of men and women don’t like the presents they receive from their loved ones, not all hope is truly lost. If you keep on reading though, you might just be able to ensure that you make it to half that does love your gifts!

4. Women Make Better Gifters than Men

Whether this stems from some maternal instinct or elsewhere, there’s something about the ladies that makes them better gift-givers than their male counterparts. A woman can usually pick out an ideal gift far better than a man, the latter of which will usually scour the store aisles with puzzled looks on their faces. Ladies, we’ve got to hand this one to you. Please help out the men in your life!

5. Men Tend to Like Practical Gifts

From gadgets to gears and tools to technology, men will often prefer gifts that possess some practical value. On the flip side, women tend to love gifts that carry a sentimental and heartful nature. As a result, you might be able to infer that men will tend to like higher-priced gifts.

6. Time is the Most Priceless Gift

If you’ve ever wanted to buy the newest iPhone on the market or that luxurious handbag, you should pause for a moment to recognize that you’ve got the most valuable gift before you — the gift of time. After all, what is there to enjoy without time? Even though you may feel that it’s slipping away from you as you get older, you can actually gift this magical experience of time to your loved ones. Keeping on reading to discover how!

The Gift of Experiences

Trust us — from the next person to another, we all love a good material item. Who doesn’t enjoy having the newest tech to play with or the latest trendy piece of clothing? Unfortunately, attempts at expressing love nowadays have taken more of a consumerism approach. Old fashioned romantic gestures are increasingly replaced by material items. The simplest and truest gift, which often is the most overlooked, may be the gift that is the most irreplaceable and intangible. It cannot be lost, nor regained. The gift of time provides the ability to connect and build emotional bonds, a gift that can be measured as priceless.

As great as a fancy desired item can be, it simply can’t compete with the gift of time. But

nothing stops you from giving both!

No matter how many perspectives you hear from people all across the world, there’s no one who doesn’t find value in time. What makes it even more special is the time that you spend with your friends and family. To express that love, you might have always bought physical gifts as we’ve always done in the past. However, one can always replace a broken car, a dented ring, or a shattered phone screen. What can never be replaced again is the time that we have with each other.

In essence, what makes life most meaningful is the experiences that we share with one another. As you might know yourself, a material good can’t make you happy forever. In fact, it might often produce a temporary satisfaction, only to slowly drift away. On the other hand, memories are what last forever and can always make your heart soar.

Don’t take our word for it alone. The immense value of experiences over material goods has even been backed up by science. According to Cornell University researcher Thomas Gilovich, his studies from the Journal of Psychological Science have indicated that experiences can bring far greater long-term enjoyment than material possessions. In fact, memories can only make the heart grow fonder with time. How’s that for human nature?

On top of that, Gilovich further explains that although we may feel at a certain point that our identity is connected to a material good, nothing can overturn the fact that we are separate from them. What remains a part of you, however, are your experiences. Unique to who you are, we are simply the sum of our experiences.

Whether unhappy or unhappy, experiences do not only enrich us as people, but also connect us to others. Have you ever bonded with someone over a shared hobby, activity, or passion? Plenty of our most treasured relationships have always resulted from experiences that united us together.

What’s even more is the anticipation that usually leads up to these experiences. Although a family vacation itself can be super fun, what’s sometimes even more enjoyable is the time that leads up to the event. In essence, experiences are the gifts that keep on giving. You can find happiness in the anticipation, the event itself, and in your memories that last you for life.

Perhaps Philosopher Aristole says it better — “Men fancy that external goods are the cause of happiness [but] leisure of itself gives pleasure and happiness and enjoyment in life.”

How Do We Gift Experiences?

Now that you know how valuable the gift of time and experience is for the people we treasure the most, it’s time for you to become the best gift-giving version of yourself yet.

A simple walk outside or date indoors won’t cut it. Instead, here’s some advice on us to help you create some of your most fun, loving, and memorable experiences.

• Try to understand the person you care about through and through. Be sure to know what their favorite type of activities are and the passions they have. This is a great starting point for brainstorming some of the best experiences you two can share together.
  

• Long walks are one of the perfect ways to get to know someone better and keep things moving along. They open up the stage for vulnerability to shine through, which is crucial to memory building. Bonus points if there’s beautiful scenery nearby, like a beach! Even extra bonus points if you guys hold hands!
  

• Sometimes, the most beautiful memories in life are unplanned. The next time you’re with your loved one, try to deviate from your planned schedule and be spontaneous! You’ll find that your imagination can take you to wonderful places and show you how fun trying different things can be.
  

At the end of the day, limited time is something that binds us all, no matter who or where we are on this planet. It’s so valuable that a price can’t even be put on it, and how we choose to spend our time is something that will always be carried with us.

Above all, memories will continue to live on even when everything else fades away. Your experiences are the ones that will keep your heart full to the end of your days.