The Eugene Bible Gift Giving Guide 1.0

It’s Christmas Eve. I’m writing this post, and to be honest, it’s too late to do me any good this year. But my experiences from this year led me to writing this in hopes of starting something good. Even if it’s too late to help right now.

Have you ever had an experience of someone wanting to buy you a gift, asking what you want, but you really don’t need anything and tell them so…And they still go out and buy you something anyway?

That happened to me a few times this year, and I decided it’s time to do something about it.

Honestly? I’m blessed in life to have more than I need, and the things that make me happiest these days are sharing stories with those I love and spreading generosity to others. So in that theme, I decided to write the “Eugene Bible Gift Giving Guide” for anyone who wants to buy me a gift. It’s still just in its first draft form, but I will be working on this over the coming days, weeks, and months.

For those of you who read my blog, maybe it resonates with you. Maybe you have suggestions for how I can improve it. Maybe you love the idea and want to make your own version (share some tidbits from it with me! I’d love to see it!)

The Eugene Bible Gift Giving Guide 1.0

Hi!

Thanks for being so thoughtful and reading this before buying me a gift.

Here’s the short of it: I am so grateful and happy for all the things in my life. I have so much more than I need – I own more things than most people own in the whole world. So much so that I really don’t need any more!

I appreciate every ounce of generosity towards me, and to be honest, the best gift you could give me would be to just pass that on to people who need that generosity more than I do. So if you’re considering getting me a gift, here are some fantastic ideas!

Donations

Donate to a charity in my name. Here are a few ideas (Bonus points if you tell me WHY you chose it!):

• A local food bank (https://www.feedingamerica.org/ is a place to find one near you, or near me if you wanna help my local community!)
• Donate to feed hungry people in other countries (I occasionally donate to https://wck.org/ or https://www.unicefusa.org/) 
• A climate or environmental group (https://350.org/ or https://drawdown.org/ for climate, https://www.rainforesttrust.org/ for nature preservation)
• An organization supporting housing (https://secure.habitat.org/), education, or healthcare access
• Donate to children who need help (I donate to https://www.savethechildren.org/ every month!)
• People protecting the rights of indigenous people (Hawaiians (I donate to https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/), Native Americans, etc.)
• Loan money to someone who needs it (Check out Kiva.org)
• Donate some books, clothes, or supplies to a school, homeless shelter, etc.

Feed Someone

• Donate a meal (or many!) through a local food pantry or shelter
• Buy some takeout and hand it to a homeless person, then tell me what you got them and how they reacted

Volunteer

• Volunteer a few hours somewhere meaningful and tell me about it
• Pick up trash at a beach, park, or neighborhood (send me a photo and tell me why you chose the place you did!)

Pay Kindness Forward

• Tip someone 100%.
• Cover someone else’s tab at a restaurant.
• Got a family member or friend who could do with a little help? Go help them out then tell me about it!

Nature Stuff

• Plant a tree
• Go on a hike somewhere you’ve never been (invite me too!), and take a silly picture and send it to me. (And only me!)

Share an experience with me

• Let’s go on a hike, beach, or a meal together.
• Plan some time for us to have a deep conversation.
• Write me a long, thoughtful letter.

If you have to gift me something…

• Make me something! I will love it so much more than anything purchased.
• Buy me something already well-loved (second-hand). I LOVE used stuff!
• Buy me an experience! A massage, a ticket to a show, a cooking class, etc.
• Buy me something online. Like a Masterclass.com subscription (I’ve always wanted one…).
• Buy me some credible carbon offsets (Go to https://www.wren.co/profile/VerdantGrowth)
• Give me a used copy of your favorite book! Bonus points if it was yours and you wrote a little note to me in it.

If you absolutely must buy me something brand new…

Here’s a list of things I want/like that could be bought new, but I’d prefer this be a last resort.

• [Haven’t made this yet…But could probably think of a few things if I had to. Later.]

Thoughts?

What do you guys think? There’s a part of me that feels like the whole “I have too much” bit could be interpreted as gloating…But I hope that it’s not taken that way. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Post them below!

Oh, and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays! See you all in 2026!