A Gift That is Received as You Intended
When you’ve given someone a good gift that they legitimately delight in, and you see that joy light up their face, you start to understand why it’s better to give than it is to receive. However, there are different rules around different kinds of gifts for different situations. Complicating things, these rules are unwritten most of the time.
A sympathy gift helps someone, and you may like to see them internalize that help and benefit from it. However, that doesn’t always happen. Just because the recipient doesn’t act as you expected doesn’t mean you’ve made a mistake, but you need to be prepared. With that in mind, consider the following three considerations for sympathy gifts.
- A Good Sympathy Gift Helps the Painful Situation
If somebody is, perhaps, suffering through Keto flu, sending them sympathy snacks full of sugar doesn’t help. Ketosis makes you feel very sick because your body is switching fuel systems, and if you give such a person sugar, it makes their suffering for nothing. Sure, the card might be nice, and have a good joke about “cheating a diet”. But that won’t help.
If what you give tempts someone away from their goals, that’s not helpful. Similarly, a man who just lost a woman he was in a relationship with for years might not actually like to have a night on the town with the guys howling after singles. He might just need some time to reflect. So sympathy gifts of varying types need to be given in light of the relevant situation.
- Assure the Gift is Appropriate to the Person
Beyond situation appropriateness, you need to assure the gift actually matches the individual in question. If someone who hates video games is depressed, getting them a video game won’t do much to help them. Also, if you’re not “close” with the person, an elaborate gift could send the wrong message, incidentally giving them something else to fret about.
Here’s a link that can help you confirm your idea is appropriate as you determine how best to send a sympathy gift. When you know who you’re buying for, you’ll be more likely to get them something that’s actually helpful.
- You Don’t Have to Be There When They Receive It
The goal of a sympathy gift is deeper than a regular gift. You’re trying to help them therapeutically. That means you probably shouldn’t be there when they receive the gift. Sure, you like to see your gift give someone joy. But what if they’re so sad your gift doesn’t register with them emotionally?
Well, now you might feel irritated, even if you don’t say anything, and subconsciously they’ll feel your emotional shift. Now they’re sad and they know somebody is displeased with them; that usually doesn’t help a person get over grief. So be prepared to surprise them with a gift they receive while you’re nowhere to see them receive it.
Helping Someone Through Grief
Be prepared for someone to get the gift when you’re not there. Consider the situation, and consider the person for whom you’re getting the gift. Keep these things in mind, and you’ll do people in need of empathy a world of good.
