During the holidays our team at The Potentiality likes to keep things loose, festive and chock full of helpful ideas to make Christmas/Hanukah/Solstice a legitimate community building experience. We’ve recommended gifts, shared career advice from holiday characters, recommended gifts again, and shared tips for throwing inclusive holiday parties. If you’re looking for locally sourced delicious things for the foodie in your life then you should read Vancity’s Good Money Blog. If you’re looking for ideas from a semi-eccentric team of an above average blog that will probably contain food, homemade items and/or stuff for dads then read on! Here are the 2017 holiday gift ideas from The Potentiality.
John’s Idea
Lego. Did you know that you can combine six standard Lego bricks in more than 915 million ways? I learned this fun fact from an article by The Lego Foundation’s Mirjam Schöning and Christina Whitcomb that focuses on how lifelong play is critical for cultivating curiosity, creativity and cognitive flexibility. So whether you’re giving brand new City-themed toys to your three-year-old son with ideas of playful collaboration or making gift bags of used blocks collected from yard sales, the gift of Lego will enhance creative potential.
Kurt’s Idea
Give an experience. Most of us have too much stuff as it is. To quote Fight Club’s Tyler Durden, “Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need. We’re the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place.” You know what helps you get beyond that? Having a special experience with your friend, partner, child, parent, etc. That could be a visit to Stanley Park with hot chocolates in hand, a visit to a favourite restaurant or a drug-induced binge with your best buddy. Whatever it is, give it some serious and discover where their interests intersects with your own. Then plan accordingly.
Mike’s Idea
Give a subscription. A surprise each month or quarter or other semi-regular interval is a fantastic meaningful way to remind someone (that’s them) they’re special to someone else (that’s you.) There are so many boutique magazines and services available you can easily find a subscription tailored to your recipient’s tastes – or something to challenge their tastes if that’s what you’re after. I personally recommend Nautilus magazine and we’ve heard good things about carnivore club and craft club. These give the recipient and giver the opportunity for a fresh chat every month or so – sure to enhance communication.
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This article was originally posted on December 13, 2017 and it holds up super well (we will literally be flooded with Lego in 24 days…).