Gifts That Grow? Maybe So!
In today's fast paced world most of us have become accustom to 'instant everything'. Don't want to wait for your favorite song to be played on the radio? Just download the tune on your iPod and play it the moment you wish to hear it. Don't want to wait for dinner to cook? Just run down to your favorite fast food restaurant and pick up a quick meal. Our 'immediate gratification' culture has produced stress, obesity, selfishness, and over-indulgence amongst everyone from children and senior citizens. Our 'got to have it now' philosophy has made gift giving progressively more difficult because most of our friends and relatives already have most everything they ever wanted.
As most wise sages will tell you, the end of the journey is not where the adventure lies, but it is the journey itself that reveals life's miracles. Make your next gift to someone you care about a process instead of an event by giving a gift that grows. Caring for a growing thing fosters patience, persistence, and pride, three qualities that all of us need in our lives.
Gifts that grow come in two basic categories, plants, and animals. Plants tend to be a bit easier to keep alive than animals, so it may be best to begin by giving vegetation to someone who has no experience with raising things. Houseplants and Chia Pets are the first things that come to mind when one thinks about a gift of greenery, and these are fine selections, but there is a broader range of gifts in this category than one might first consider.
An ornamental tree or shrub is almost always appreciated by a new homeowner, an avid gardener, or a senior citizen who likes the feel of earth on their skin. Ornamental trees come in all sizes from 3-4 foot tall, to large shade-producing varieties. Some flower and bear fruit, while others attract birds and butterflies.
Topiary (a sculptured tree or shrub) is an elegant gift for those with refined tastes, or for the creative types on your gift list who will enjoy manicuring and shaping their piece of 'growing art'. A Japanese bonsai (miniaturized trees grown as a container plant) or a Chinese penjing (a tray landscape) is a unique gift that can be enjoyed indoors or as a patio accent.
Not to short change Chia pets and houseplants, these too are great gifts for the young and the not-so-young alike. The Chia herb garden is a thoughtful gift for the cooks you know, and what child won't marvel at a rapidly growing Chia Pet? Cat owners experience endless hours of fun watching their kitties wallow in the cat grass Chia. Corn plants are also great fun to raise because they are almost impossible to kill, do well in any environment, and grow steadily to heights of 10 feet or more. Folks with 'brown thumbs' will feel like genuine horticulturalists as their corn plant flourish.
Once a person is adept at raising plants, shrubs, or Chias without causing them undue harm or suffering, it may be time to progress on to the animal kingdom. Fish, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, bunnies, lizards, kittens, and pups all provide companionship and ongoing entertainment. It would be considered irresponsible to burden anyone with a pet without first asking if they want one, so do not overlook that little detail before making a pet purchase! Kids always want pets so be sure to get their parents blessing before picking up a pooch.
Instead of selecting a pet for the gift recipient, the giver may want to give a pet shop gift certificate, or take the person along to select the pet of his/her choice. Deciding who you want to live with is a very personal choice, and a pet is an additional family member.
A growing gift is better than anything made of plastic, or metal, or cloth, because a growing gift is made of spirit, and feeling, and fun.
