In the last edition of EARTH MATTERS, we looked at gift giving with Mother Earth in mind. But gift giving is a two-way street.
It’s not only when we give gifts that we have an impact on the environment. We also have an impact when we are on the receiving end. When our loved ones ask us what we want for Christmas or Hanukkah, we have an opportunity to consider the planet as well as our own desires.
Here are a few suggestions to consider when you’re asked for your gift list:
- Give some serious thought to your list. It can be hard to come up with a good list, so many of us don’t do it. When we say, “oh, anything will be fine” or “Oh, you know what I like,” we are more likely to receive a gift we don’t particularly want. The gift may end up in the trash, a waste of both money and resources.
- Be specific. The more concrete we can be about the items on our list—color, size, favorite brand, etc., the more likely it is that we’ll receive a gift we are truly happy to get, that won’t end up being discarded, or sit unused.
- If you feel you have everything you need, and you don’t need more ‘stuff’ in your apartment, consider suggesting an experience you would enjoy. Tickets to an upcoming concert, play, or sporting event, perhaps. If the person asking for your list has a special skill, like baking or crafting, request something homemade that you would enjoy.
- And finally, you can take the opportunity to ask for a gift that will further a cause you care deeply about. Ask for a donation, in your name, to a nonprofit organization that is doing valuable work to address human needs or to protect the environment