As Mother’s Day approaches I’d like to suggest a change to the way we look at giving.

Consider this, instead of the mad rush looking around for the perfect gift for our loved ones, perhaps it is now time for a change in perspective and a rethink. Try a gift of your time or your contribution, rather than another trinket or plaything to clutter up our already over stuffed homes.

In lieu of this I have put together a list of some of the best gifts ever that won’t cost you a lot of dollars but will truly have you feeling great about yourself.

Giving needs to be all about the difference you make and to the way another feels. It’s about giving the gift of yourself, or making a difference to the life of another through a gesture that comes from you, straight from your heart.

So some ideas from me:

1. Set up a monthly pledge through a favourite charity, a pledge that delivers a monthly return in correspondence, this would be an awesome reminder of your gesture and assists a very real need.
2. Offer a day of your time to take your special person to a free (or paid) event such as a concert in the park and take a picnic along.
3. Adopt a pet through the SPCA, but always check that this is a suitable gift first.
4. Take time together to go and cook meals at the City Mission or equivalent in your area.  So many people have this on their bucket list, but never make it happen.
5. Cook a meal for someone you love, something special and afford the time to sit down and enjoy it with them along with a gorgeous bottle of wine.
6. Think wellness and take someone into the great outdoors, choose a moderate hike (or walk) and introduce them to the benefits of movement, pack a delicious lunch and enjoy the terrain together.
7. Teach or pay to learn a skill, one that you have that they have always wanted to learn. I would love to learn to knit or to sing.
8. Introduce your loved one to Pilates or Yoga, these are the top rated exercises of the 21^st century. Simply pick them up and take them to a class, a great way to start moving and maintain flexibility if you are not one to enjoy exercise, as I am not.
9. Find a fabulous healthy sweet treat, practice how to cook this and make up small parcels of deliciousness to give as gifts along with a gorgeous card with well thought out words.
10. Put on fabulous luncheon with your nearest and dearest. Host at your place serving delicious whole food with a beautifully decorated table and some yummy rose wine.
11. Pick a huge bunch of fresh flowers from your garden, arrange and tie in a big bow, place in a vintage vase from a junk store and write a card that talks to how much this person means to you.
12. Chocolate dip some large strawberries in white, milk and dark chocolate. Arrange in a gorgeous box and add a card that is hand written and talks about the special relationship you have.

There are so many great ideas that will in most case cost little in dollars and take nothing more than your time.