Think of the most meaningful gift you have received in your life. What made it stand out in your mind? Was it the monetary value, or was it the person who gave it to you and the care they took in selecting the gift? If you are looking for a thoughtful gift for a loved one, there are not many gifts more touching than those that can be passed down through generations. Here are some meaningful gifts—old and new—that you can pass on to the special people in your life.
Jewelry and Timepieces
Even if you don’t have a grandmother’s ring or a grandfather’s pocket watch to pass on to your family members, carefully selected jewelry and timepieces can become treasured items of family history for those you love. Select a favorite item from your own collection to give, or choose a new piece that you know will be appreciated. Consider having your gift engraved with a name, date, or another significant phrase for an extra personal touch.
Music Boxes
A high-quality music box is a wonderful choice for a gift that can last through the years and bring joy to multiple generations. Some music boxes available today allow you to choose a specific song that has special meaning to you or the person the box is for. Selecting a music box constructed of quality materials ensures that it will be able to play its memorable tune for many years to come.
Christmas Ornaments
For holiday gifts, favorite Christmas ornaments hung on the tree year after year are full of treasured memories. As you pass on the decorations at the center of a long-standing family tradition, remembering the connections you made and the good times you had will be a cherished gift of its own.
Books
For many families, gathering to read in the evening is an important daily ritual. Some stories become especially favored and are read over and over again throughout childhood. These stories and books are wonderful gifts when children finally leave the nest or have their own families. Parents love sharing with their children the tales that impacted them most when they were young.
Musical Instruments
Giving a musical instrument can have a massive impact on those who receive them. Musical instruments can be a source of joy and memory-making in every home where they exist, but they can also be important to a person’s future. Studies suggest that playing an instrument is like exercise for your brain, helping it perform better in a variety of ways that affect daily life. Passing that gift on from generation to generation ensures that the benefits of music bless your family for a long time.
Tools
Many people have watched the men (and women!) in their lives use hand tools to improve the world around them and ensure their families are safe and comfortable. Over the years, seeing the love with which they are used attaches particular significance to ordinary objects like wrenches, chisels, and saws. Consider passing these tools on to those who will appreciate them and keep those cherished memories alive.
Collections
We sometimes chuckle when grandpa can’t stop talking about his trains or when grandma insists on keeping all those old quilts. But these collections, carefully curated over the years, are much more than the sum of their parts. They are a representation of the people who collected them and can help our loved ones feel close when they are not near. So gather up the stamps, coins, sports memorabilia, and spoons and give them new life as a gift for someone you love.
Photo Albums
What better way to give the gift of memories than a photo album? Gone are the days of disorganized photo boxes and crumbling binders. Today, creating beautiful, printable photo albums online is quick and simple, making it easy to preserve your photos and keep a visual record of all those recitals, birthdays, and vacations. The recipient of this gift will love flipping through the pages and reliving every special moment.
Recipes
Did you know that our brains make connections between taste, time, and location? In other words, our memories of a time and place are often tied closely to the foods we ate there. That’s why we will often talk about grandma’s cookies or mom’s fried chicken when we reminisce about past times. Consider collecting and printing those closely guarded recipes so the good food and even better times can be appreciated for many generations to come.
Pay It Forward
The world is full of options when it comes to shopping for gifts, but there are some things that money just can’t buy. As you consider the gifts you’ll give to your loved ones this season, use this guide to select items that mean a lot to you and your family or choose timeless gifts that can be enjoyed now and in the future. You might just give someone the most meaningful gift they’ve ever received.
