Like the vast majority of Earth’s population, I dread the commercialization of the holiday season. Everywhere you look there are ads for this year’s gizmo, gadget, and whatchamacallit. The ads have a way of guilt tripping you into spending hundreds of dollars and making you believe that your loved one cannot live without the unnecessary necessity.
What if I told you there was a gift that everyone could use?
If you have been following my blog on social media over the last month or so (if you haven’t, then you should *wink wink nudge nudge*), then you are already familiar with what I will be talking about. I ran two contests- one on Facebook and one on Instagram. The grand prizes were “self-care kits.” I greatly underestimated their popularity.
The idea for a “self-care kit” came from when I worked in an adult day program, and a long-term employee of the facility sadly passed away. The staff came together and bought gifts for his family to put together a “bereavement basket.” They were mostly comfort items like blankets, aromatherapy, candy, and DVD’s. I did this again when my coworker’s brother passed away suddenly, and I had her in tears. She could not stop thanking me and hugging me.
I translated this idea to the contest “self-care kits.” I went to a store called Five Below where I knew the most I would spend on any one product would be five dollars. I grabbed a few things that might help an individual balance out the chaos of everyday life and put up a picture on social media (See Featured Image). The kit I posted included an assortment of inexpensive items including bath bombs, stress balls, adult coloring books, journals, planners, chocolate, lips balms, and hand lotion. I thought it might be a neat idea to market my blog based on none other than self-care. However, the feedback was immediate. The comments read:
“This is so cute.”
“This would be perfect instead of sitting around on my phone all day.”
“I need this.” I NEED THIS. When I saw this comment repeatedly popping up, it became evident. This kit served as a reminder. It reminded people of one’s own self-care, especially during the overly stressful holiday season. It provided a mini escape during a much needed time. It also sent a message that someone else was taking into consideration their well-being and self-preservation.
If you know anyone who might need a reminder for their own self-care, this might not be a bad gift idea. Trust me, they will appreciate it.
-The Caring Counselor