Gift for Tough Times

It’s everywhere we turn. Job losses. Businesses struggling or permanently closing. Weddings and baby showers have been cancelled. Graduations and proms missed. It’s one of the saddest news cycles we’ve seen in decades, or possibly ever by some accounts. But despite all this, the kindness, encouragement, prayers and support for others has been rampant.

I’ve never experienced friendliness like I’ve seen it the past month. When I’ve gone to get groceries or pick up food to-go, people have been uncharacteristically warm, friendly, and engaging. The amount of hopeful messages I’ve seen on social media and in my mailbox are heartwarming. And all this tells me that regardless of how hard times get, the human spirit is bent towards hope and optimism. I have two friends in particular who have gone through some rough patches recently, and it’s hard to know what small token to send to let them know they are loved in a time of high stress. I’ve been searching for something that could lift spirits, and I wanted to share what I found:

• Mantra Bands. Oh, how I love these! These are inspirational bracelets that can act as a daily reminder or affirmation for yourself or someone else. I personally love “The Best Is Yet to Come“, because a pastor friend always closes his letters and voice messages with that saying and it resonates with me deeply. (He kept telling us this as we tried to have a baby, and it kept us hopeful.) Mantra Bands come in a silver, rose gold, or yellow gold finish, and range from $25-$35. Some of my favorites to send someone are: “Beautiful Girl, You Can Do Hard Things“, “Choose Joy“, “You Got This“, “One Day at a Time” and “Keep Moving Forward“. I am making these my go-to gift for those who have lost a job, a loved one/pet, or who might be making a major shift in their life to remind them hope never goes away.

Whether you need to gift one of these to a loved one or just need a reminder for yourself, I think words of hope can make a powerful difference in our day. I hope these lift up someone who needs it!

Photography: S. Jackson

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