A jar full of sunshine to open in the cold and cloudy winter! I loved it, and it did warm my heart (it does still, today).

Ines Guerreiro, Portugal

A picnic basket that belonged to my grandmother.

Rhonda Seegers, Indianapolis, IN

I’m being treated for stage 3 breast cancer and a friend I had not seen or even talked to in years sent me a colorful handmade quilt. I was stunned that someone would do this for me, and it’s a treasure!

Lora K, Waverly Iowa

My husband made me a photo album full of pictures of the two of us on our many adventures! Very sweet.

Dawn, Indiana

My daughter made a "mix Spotify list" of songs that are meaningful to both of us together. It was perfect.

Freddi C, Lewisburg, PA. I am an 80-year-old single woman with two grown kids and two grandkids, and I write the social column for our local paper.

My husband had seen me admire stained glass so much that he surprised me with a three-day workshop at the Corning Museum of Glass. It was incredible.

Heather W., outside of Washington, DC

One year, one of my best friends was very low on money. She crocheted a bag for me that I use for my needlepoint project. (My great-grandmother had taught her how to crochet, so the gift was extra meaningful).

I have a dear friend from childhood who is an artist. She gave me a drawing inspired by a conversation we had and I had it framed. I cherish that.

Jen Smith, Dallas, TX

Cookies. A friend put forth time and effort to make cookies using her family's recipe. I felt honored to be a recipient (participant?) in that tradition.

My family has contributed to animal welfare funds in my name. Those gifts mean more to me than anything once can buy in a store.


Kim J., Minneapolis, MN

One year, when I didn't want to celebrate my birthday, my mom tied a birthday love note to my cat's collar for her to deliver. That was the best gift.

Barb

My neighbor knows I don't have much. She recently bought a new bed and gave me her "old" one. A beautiful, very well-preserved bed made of solid wood with decorative details.

Manuela from Trier, Germany

A hand-signed greeting card sent by snail mail.

Liz Day; Plainfield, IL; Vietnam Era Air Force Veteran

The gift of traveling to new cities and countries. Taking in cultures different from America.

My husband refinished an old wood table for me.

Gina Passantino, Amherst, NY

My mom crocheted a replica life-sized stuffed animal that looked pretty similar to my new mutt I adopted.

I'm a card maker and scrapbooker. I make calendars tailored to the recipient from things that happened over the past year.

Lisa, Salisbury NC

In honor of my sister who is an animal lover and does not need material possessions, I sponsored a cat kennel at our local animal shelter. They put her name on the plaque on a kitty’s kennel door and when I sent her a photo she cried. Best gift moment!!

Lora K, Waverly Iowa

To continue a tradition begun by my dad, I give my niece a piece of strange produce each year. Usually wrapped in a way to disguise it.

I was able to make a photocopy of my Dad's WW2 unit yearbook from the South Pacific and gave it to him for his birthday. He was completely overwhelmed!

I once made a wooden paper weight for my dad that I (carefully) used a long candle lighter to burn a heart shape into and I wrote above it in sharpie the letter “I” and then below the heart I wrote “you” so all together it said “I 🖤 You.”

Christine, New York

I found my Mom's cheese ball recipe after she passed in 2008 (my sister's favorite) and make one for our holiday feasting, and give her one to take home after the holidays.

For my family, my list is severely curtailed but I have a few male relatives who are older and find themselves widowed or otherwise single and they look like ragamuffins. I'm buying them decent clothing for work.

We have adopted animals at Philadelphia Zoo in people’s names, also adopted injured marine animals at Southern NJ Animal Stranding Center and have adopted manatees in Florida. They send pictures of the adopted animals.

One year I took all my grandma's recipes and copied them all down for my cousins.

Travis Smith, Shippensburg, PA 

I'm a regular platelets donor. I donate every 2 weeks. I like to think that I'm giving someone another day with their love ones.

Jean Samaniego from Oceanside, CA

I sent my little cousin my ruby earrings from when I was a child for her birthday. We share the ruby as our birthstone.

Krystal Burroughs, Palm Harbor, FL

Making jars of mixes is always a good gift. Cake, cookies, or even a soup mix is always a winner. Heck, I once gifted a box of pasta with a spice mix and some pre-cooked beans, and it was a hit. It made a quick meal for a busy person.

Jennifer, FL, proud fur-mama

I‘m trying to give something that will make this person‘s life easier or better, like watching a friend who’s taking care of her mother for a few hours, so she can rest, sitting a friend's dog who can‘t be left alone, so she can go on date, etc. The basic thought this year will be: How can I help? What does this person truly need that I can give with all my heart?

This season, we're going back to baking chocolate chip cookies for friends, family, and local first responders, who spend their holidays working.

Heather in Virginia

I am considering creating a meal of the person's choice. I’d like to feed people in some way. Maybe a drive to watch for whales with a thermos of hot cacao and fresh-baked cookies. Pack a picnic for someone. Food is often love in another wrapping.

Kathleen Whitson, Anchorage AK

Time. Spending time with elderly family members. Giving them undecided attention. Listening to their stories, encouraging them to retell favorite memories.

Ramona

I've given people a card with the promise of an experience. Tickets for us to go to a show, concert, or place of their choosing within a specific cost range. The gift of time is also meaningful.

We find comfort in traditions. When we were small, my mom wrapped everything separately, including hair spray, leggs panty hose, we had so many gifts to open. I always try to do that.

Bev Moulse, Salem Virginia

My husband is a collage artist, and he often collages small (3x3) pieces of cardboard with an image on it - such as pastries, for example - and on the back of the card will be written "If you present this card to me, I will pick up a piece of cake for you." The options are endless and the gift keeps giving for a long time.

Kim J. Minneapolis, MN

I have taken my parents to different shows at local theaters. Celebrating what they love, "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," opera, and ballet.

Shana Rosenblatt, Maryland

I have friends and family for New Year’s night to dinner and play the old Italian game of Tombola. A family tradition playng with the board and tokens cut and engraved in wood by my great-great-grandfather.

Fiorenza, in Vancouver, Canada. Originally from Firenze, Italia

This year we will be having a family get together with dinner and instead of exchanging gifts we will all be making donations to our local food, banks and shelters.

My family likes to go to a particular place in the summer together each year for vacation so we usually pick up candy and small items as stocking stuffers for December!

Dawn, Indiana

I gave my time to help someoneI teach an online class in communication at the college. For a recent assignment they had to do 3 acts of kindness based on Tim McGraw's "Humble & Kind." They then had to write up the reaction of the receipent. It was a great eye-opening experience for most.

Mary Kay Woudenberg Whittier, Calif. Professor of Communication at Rio Hondo College

Kindness and remembrance goes a long way. Please go out of your way to check in on a neighbor to just say hello. There have been a lot of losses this year, whether a spouse, a pet, friend, family member, coworker, even yourself. Grant some grace and give a little of your time.

Be kind, always. No matter how small you think your deeds are, they make a difference for someone or something. Many small good deeds lead to big changes.

Patricia, Finland

Every day try to do one small thing for someone else. Hold the door for someone, even if it means you need to wait a little longer, smile at someone on the street or in the store. Little things make our days and therefore our lives so much better!

Nancy Agacinski, Cleveland OH

Kindness matters. People remember.

Andrea, Memphis, Tennessee

Many people are going through tough times this year. If you can help, please help. If you need help, please ask for help. Let's all remember that kindness increases when we share our blessings. We're all in this together, and we can keep each other afloat.

Heather in Virginia

Kindness should be one of the easiest things to give. We have to look beyond our own nose and feel our interconnectedness rather than our differences. It means taking a deep breath, finding a moment of stillness within your heart, and feeling the pulse of the world around us.

Cyndy Young, FL

Be gentle with yourself in this life; forgive yourself for past mistakes and be kind going forward.

Elizabeth Marcello, current stage 4 cancer patient living in Maine with my two cats

Things are tough and sometimes we get frustrated, but if you just look a little closer, you are sure to find joy, happiness, and kindness. It truly is everywhere — it just tends to be quieter than the anger, sadness, and pessimism.

Shana Rosenblatt, Maryland

Share your compliments, savor the good things. Keep your negative thoughts to yourself, and leave them behind.

We are all people. Our worldviews may differ, but underneath we are all the same.

The small kindness you share with someone may be the only bright spark in their day. Likewise, if you feel terrible or hopeless, being kind to someone will shift your perspective, maybe only slightly, but it will be positive. Sometimes that’s a small smile. And that’s enough.

Ramona

It's not whether you do something big or small, but rather just doing something for others. This is a kind act for the receiver but also the best thing you can do for yourself.

Karin, Hong Kong

In a world full of divided ideas and clashing opinions, we really need to prioritize kindness to others and kindness to ourselves.

Marie, born and raised Chicagoan

Kindness in these days needs to look like speaking up for the marginalized and suffering and taking tangible action to help them.

Sunshine Morgan

The world is full of hate and anger. Do not let it get to you, or join in on it. Try to see the positive and share that.

Travis Smith, Shippensburg, PA

We’re all in this together. Each of us is human, with failings and foibles. Treat one another with respect and kindness. You never know what someone else is going through. And…a hug goes a long way.

I’m 80. Retired. A crafter with too many hobbies and a house full of wonderful cats.

I will celebrate being alive to experience another Christmas. Most of the traditions will not happen this year or will be scaled back. I lost everything I owned except what was in my car when the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena. But my closest neighbors, my family, and I escaped. Nineteen Altadenans did not.

Laura Berthold Monteros
I am a writer, but am struggling to write. I am dealing with post-fire trauma and brain fog, but gradually healing. Everything, even the hard stuff, is a gift.

My family celebrates Christmas, and due to some health issues with my dad, we are being proactive in making this year less about traditional gift giving and more about time together as a family. It's actually refreshing and a metaphorical weight off all of our shoulders to not have to buy a lot of stuff. I certainly don't shun gift-giving - it can be wonderful when it's thoughtful and fun. But it's also nice to do it this way. :)

Mary Beth, a dog-lover in Indiana

Going through breast cancer twice now, it’s given me a “super power” to see what matters in life and that is caring for others and kindness and compassion. You truly never know what someone else is going through, whether it’s the checker at the store or a neighbor, so give lots of grace to everyone!

Lora K, Waverly Iowa

When we lost our beloved chihuahua, Penney, I didn't think any of us would ever recover. We were blessed to have her in our life for 19 years. My son grew up with her. I made a keychain with a chihuahua charm, a picture of Penney, and wrote a poem about her that I printed tiny on the reverse of the picture. I also included her birthstone along with my son's birthstone. It made him cry, me cry, and definitely allowed for a lot of healing.

Chelsea Sudduth, from Virginia by way of Mississippi

My biological family is growing smaller all the time whereas my spiritual family is growing daily. I don't plan to spend money on a lot of people but I'm glad to write my circle (especially my husband) love letters at the end of the year to tell them how much I appreciate them.

Andrea, Memphis, Tennessee

Take a long exhale, roll your shoulders, speak kindly to yourself. Think of a beloved who isn’t physically present, or a pet/animal or your future self then consider what gift would they like you to receive now. Write a message in their voice about the gift and why they want you to have it now. Add it to a gift message and send yourself a gift from them. If you’d like save the gift to open at a holiday or other meaningful date.

A lot of my family have recently passed, so I'll be giving gifts in their memory. Trying to not buy so many commercial things but give gifts that have true meaning.

Sherry F.

My sister and I began new traditions after our parents died. I try to do one activity or event new every year.

Christina DeSalvo, Western PA

I am an amateur photographer, but I take photos for the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. Then I enlarge them, mat and frame them, and donate them to their gift shop so that they receive 100% of the profits.

Peggy Thompson, Las Vegas, NV

Heading into this holiday season with the economy already tight, beloved family pets are being rehomed because they cannot buy food for the pets when they can't afford to feed the people. If you know of someone who has pets who is struggling, buy them a gift certificate to a local pet store so they can keep their pets!

Tami, mid-Michigan

If there is room in your home and heart, adopt a rescue animal. You will get more in love then you could possibly imagine.

Scott Gordon, cast member of the Uncle Floyd Show

Help the children! Get involved with the juvenile court system as a volunteer for foster children (Court Appointed Special Volunteer). So many of the youth in foster care need a caring adult in their lives and you'll get back much more than you give from these children.

There is always something you can do to help. Even if it's just a note or a card. I also like to donate pantry items to food banks and organizations.

Jimmy, Seattle, happily retired

I have a great running group and every year we combine funds and shop for Toys for Tots. We regularly have $700 or more and stuff the donation boxes at local businesses. Collecting, shopping, and delivering feels so good.

Shana Rosenblatt, Maryland, lucky caretaker of two cats and two dogs

I volunteer for Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry. Our nonprofit has provided food and comfort to our neighbors in need for five decades. We are fortunate to be part of this community. I encourage people to get involved with their communities, with open hearts and small kindnesses, to weather the current political storms.

Laurie Kiernicki, Decatur, GA

Give what you can whether it’s monetary physical or just plain friendship and love. This year with a restaurant I work at, we're giving free meals for Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition that was started years ago and continues to grow each year.

Steve, Emmett, Idaho. I was a delivery truck driver for 30 years and since retiring I have went back to work to stay active and do some voluntary work.

Give to those alone, a neighbor, a single or widowed friend. Even just a card to know someone remembered them this holiday season

Adopt an older or senior cat. Shelters can be harder on cats, especially those that have been abandoned. With all the strange noise & smells, they may come off as shy or anti-social. In a quiet home, they can blossom.

Raven from CA, now in NJ

I work at a compnay that at times has excess OR supplies. Instead of throwing them away, I donated them to a non-profit vet clinic.

Robin, St. Paul, MN

I put apples and fresh water and a salt lick out in my backyard. I also spread seeds for the birds.

Maria T. Lamm, Woodland Park, NJ. My backyard is full of wildlife. I try to feed them all we use safe salt for animals and safe pesticides for animals. Had 3 cats now down to 2.