The Perfect Gift

With only a couple of weeks left to go until Christmas, the shopping crunch has begun. In a world where everyone seems to purchase whatever they  want, when they want it, gift giving has become increasingly difficult. The influx of gift cards and cash as gifts surely validates that point… and while I myself appreciate a gift of any sort, nothing excites me more than finding someone else the PERFECT gift.

What makes it perfect?

 It holds a memory. A gift that transports the receiver back to a fantastic moment in time is always a sure winner. Undoubtedly this is the  reason photo gifts are so popular. You can personalize just about anything these days, and while a life size photo blanket of your boyfriend isn’t for everyone, more subtle options are available.

It’s something they wouldn’t buy for themselves. The perfect gift shouldn’t be something  they almost purchased for themselves at the mall last week.  Part of the novelty of the perfect gift is that the receiver didn’t even realize they wanted it, until it was in their hands.

It screams, ” you weren’t here, and I was still thinking of you “. This guideline should apply to every item you select for someone you care about. From a cup of coffee, to a diamond ring, the message should always be clear.

It wouldn’t be as perfect if it were gifted by someone else.  The perfect gift should speak to the unique relationship you have with that person. So much so, that if they were to receive the gift from someone else, it may not even make sense.

Hands down, the most perfect gift I ever received  was a wedding present from my mother.  The night before my big day, she handed me a small, colourful box. I could tell from the weight and shape that it had to be a piece of jewellery . Having already carefully selected items to wear on my walk down the aisle, I was surprised that she had ventured to purchase another.  Nestled on white cotton was a beautiful yellow gold cross  with  three diamonds. She asked me if I recognized it. I said I didn’t… I had never seen anything like it. She told me she had taken my father’s diamond ring and had it remade into a pendant for me.  While I may have blamed her for my puffy eyes the next day, only my mother would understand how badly I needed to have a piece of my father at that moment.

Epic gifts like that don’t come around often, and I certainly don’t envy any of you who are still on the hunt. Best of luck ,and remember, perfection is only an opinion!