Take advantage of the slow pace of this in-between season and spend some time with our favorite year-round sentiment: gratitude. Celebrate the people in your life with gratitude gift bags, which are designed to show your favorites—beloved neighbors, dedicated teachers, extended family, and close friends—how fortunate you feel to have them around. This simple gesture might even make you more grateful and less stressed about your upcoming holiday prep. Here, we share some ways to show that good things really can come in small packages.
Practical Matters.
Show your appreciation with a heartfelt or humorous note that explains how much each person means to you; roll it up like a scroll, then secure it with a colorful ribbon or clothespin. Small gifts bought in sets let you mix and match the contents for your recipients with a simple gesture that can make their day.
From bookmarks to bowl cozies, filling gratitude bags with sensible pieces can make people appreciate them even more. For example, busy pals might find mini composition notebooks perfect for their endless to-do lists; those who are often on the road may like water bottles and protein bars for grab-and-go snacks or car coasters to protect cupholders from spills. Coworkers can get use and a laugh out of stress balls.
Creative Content.
Gratitude bags can also include sustainable selections, like thrift-store or consignment-shop finds. Consider gifting hand-me-downs you no longer wear that friends have coveted. Inspirational quotes printed on recycled paper can be framed as artwork or displayed on the fridge.
From tasty baked goods to painted rocks, you can also make your own creations to round out the mix. DIY items like keychains or little characters made from wine corks show you put some time and effort into your personal picks. These unique and affordable pieces can also be fun to create and stretch your budget when you plan for multiple gratitude bags.
Special Message.
Stones painted or engraved with encouraging messages such as “You Got This” can lift someone’s spirits on a difficult day. A little humor can lead to a good laugh with your loved ones when you include pens with messages like “Goal Digger” or erasers that read “Uh-Oh.” (These pieces may be sold in multiples, making them more cost-effective than other options.)
Let your gift bags hint at what’s to come before anyone peeks inside. Search online for straightforward styles that say “Grateful” or playful picks with quips like “This is Not a Puppy.” For reusable varieties, look for colorful tote bags made from recycled saris. Fabric pouches in the same material can hold smaller items like fragile stones for a gift that keeps on giving.
Package Deal.
If you plan to leave gratitude bags with edible treats at each person’s door, make sure someone is home to collect so domestic pets and other critters don’t approach them first. You might prefer to explain the concept to them in person, which gives you a good excuse to meet for coffee or cocktails.
When planning, make a list and check it twice so you will be sure to have enough supplies on hand. Give some thought to your gifts and recipient list. Now go ahead and spread some gratitude through your community and beyond. Perhaps your efforts resonate with others so they follow suit, pay it forward, and gratitude lives on.
Photography provided by timonko/iStock/Getty Images Plus.
