Living this festive season with purpose, meaning and joy
How do you like to give and receive gifts? We’ve been thinking about this a lot as we approach the season of jollyness, family gatherings, gifting and packaging being torn open left, right and centre.
When you’re living a life aligned with your values or aspiring to, do you want the latest plastic gimmick from your brother? Or what do you get your sister when she is already a corporate earth goddess? Can you give a gift that has purpose, meaning and joy? And can you receive one too?
I can still remember some of the beautiful gifts I’ve received over the years - the ones I have loved the most are the gifts that weren’t the latest season, fad or whim, but the gifts that were beautiful, classic and timeless - gifts that, for me, had purpose and kept on giving long past the beautiful day when I received them. One of my favourites was a reusable ceramic coffee cup which a very good friend gave me over a decade ago, when they were a rarity. I remember being overjoyed at the thought and how it completely aligned with my values, instantly - I had been meaning to get one for ages. It’s been with me to-and-from work and elsewhere ever since, and even though I dropped it just the other day, and the kind of drop where it broke (can you believe it!), it’s still in use and adorning the window sill for an array of purposes.
Can you gift someone purpose, meaning and joy? I think you possibly can. I think my beautiful reusable coffee cup was it. I think there have been other gifts like this too, for these gifts had the magic of being aligned with purpose, meaning and joy, and they made me feel all of those things and more.
And these gift don't always have to be material, tangible ones - here's a few ideas beyond the physical which could make you and your loved ones' feel all the magic:
- Give the gift of conservation and adopt an animal on your loved ones' behalf: you can become a Zoo Parent of a Bilby, Tassie Devil or a Sumatran Tiger with Taronga Zoo's Adopt an Animal Program.
- Commit to a challenge for a great cause and sign your fam or mates up to do the Oxfam Trailwalker: 100km trail walk
- Book a weekend camping trip for your crew at one of Hipcamp's amazing locations on private land around Australia. Seriously, what better gift than one where you're surrounded by the beautiful Australian bush, with all its sounds, smells and spirit.
- Sign up your lover for the course or workshop they've always wanted to do: We have some half day and multi-day workshops and nature-based events we're running in 2021. You can check them out here.
And if you're thinking it's a physical gift you'd like to give, Life Wild’s entire existence is to be here for you to explore and discover ways to live how you really want to - aligned with your values and with nature - and in doing that, help you to bring more purpose, meaning, joy and beauty to your everyday. Products that fulfil a purpose and are useful, meaningful and bring joy are the very foundations of the intentions that have gone into creating the Life Wild range (and our business).
We’ve carefully made and curated products from Australian businesses which have been made in alignment with our core values { to be kind, conscious, open }, and with respect for people, animals and our beautiful planet.
They each have purpose: each have a useful function to help you live how you want to - in alignment with your values and with nature, being there for you in your choice to live a more sustainable life.
Their meaning is deep: they have been designed and made by Australian businesses, and demonstrate the principles of the circular economy, which recognises the finite nature of our resources and will help us all to shift our baseline to a more sustainable way of living. They all support local Australian businesses, industry, communities and causes.
Joy is their essence: if you’re a little like us, you’ll get joy from eating your takeaway packaging free, or from knowing the people who have made your products have been treated fairly and ethically. You may also be overjoyed knowing the product that gives you so much joy is also a product that is not going to burden a landfill at the end of its life either. Now that is serious joy! Being able to be in control of your own impact and discern how you want to be and live in this world - heaven squared.
Whether you’re signing up right now for the Oxfam Trailwalker or looking to peruse our range, they're all potential gifts of purpose, meaning and joy for someone you love. Gifts that are timeless that empower the receiver - gifts that align with their life - gifts that add more beauty to their everyday - gifts that warm their heart - gifts that lift their spirits - gifts that give strength to the core of who they are.
What is more, if you're opting for the physical, you can request gift wrapping which will be - you guessed it - aligned in every way: beautiful recycled brown paper which has been made in Sydney from post-consumer paper, biodegradable sticky tape and coconut rope for adorning - each is biodegradable or reusable or recyclable.
We’ve also created a range of simple and beautiful Life Wild Greeting Cards which have been made, designed and printed in Sydney on recycled card so that everything is just how you want it to be. Select gift wrapping in your cart we’ll add all the joyous vibes we can to your package too.
If you want to plan something special, please get in touch - we’d love to help you out. Wishing you all the most beautiful, loving and safe festive season, and may 2021 be your best year yet.
Caitlin / LW x
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Live Life Wild
5 steps to a plastic-free dental routine
Have your 'elf a wildly sustainable Christmas
