The Gift of Curiosity
A New Way to Approach Gift-Giving This Christmas
Gift-giving is a cherished tradition of the festive season, but it can also bring stress and pressure to ‘get it right’ and spend, spend, spend. What if, instead of viewing gift-giving as a task or a chore, we saw it as an opportunity to practice curiosity?
Adopting a curious mindset can make present buying more joyful and meaningful for everyone. We have thought of some new ways to approach it this Christmas by embracing your curiosity, taking time to listen, ask more questions, turning to your local community and getting creative!
Ask More Questions and Listen
Instead of defaulting to the usual gift ideas, black Friday deals and generic gift sets, dig deeper. Getting more curious about who you are creating or buying a gift for helps you think beyond the surface and tune into what the person truly values.
When chatting to a friend or family member you would like to give a gift to this Christmas, be observant and get curious about them. Take time to really listen. What do they talk about when they light up with excitement? What’s a problem they’ve been trying to solve? What’s something small that could add joy to their everyday life?
Pay attention to their surroundings, recent activities or hobbies. Have they just started a new pottery class and need some of their own tools and equipment? Or are they in need of some rest and relaxation with some locally sourced aromatherapy oils?
This Is An Opportunity To Support Local Artists & Independent Businesses
Our curious town is brimming with unbelievably talented local creators, artisans and independent businesses. Get curious about who’s right around the corner from you creating beautiful and unique gifts. Remember when you buy from a local artist or an independent business, you’re not just giving a gift—you’re supporting our local creative community.
Explore nearby markets or shops: Visit local Christmas markets (we’ve listed some great ones in our newsletter!) or independent shops in your area to find one-of-a-kind items.
Look for handmade gifts: Pieces like pottery, woodwork, or paintings from local creators make memorable gifts that all have a story behind them. Our Creative Producer Rosie loved a pair of hand-dyed leggings she recently recieved as a gift, she said it sparked her curiosity about what affects you could acheive through bleach dying!
Gift an experience: Look to the many studios, galleries, makers and artists who offer workshops and vouchers in our town. An experience gift can often lead to the receiver getting more curious about something new, so it really is a gift that keeps on giving! Curious Agenda’s Founder Miia said a present she recieved that sparked her curiosity was a graffiti class she could experience with her brother!
Get Creative with Handmade Gifts
There’s something deeply personal and thoughtful about a handmade gift—it’s an act of love and effort that makes it extra special!
You don’t have to be an expert crafter or maker to create something yourself, a simple and wholesome jar of homemade jam or chutney or infused olive oil makes a great gift to accompany all the festive food. It also doesn’t have to all come from your loving hands. Combining something handcrafted with something you’ve bought is a great way to still have that handmade touch. Just look at our ‘Hot Chocolate Bomb’ recipe included in our December newsletter. This is a great handmade gift that could be teamed with a locally made mug for a cosy Christmas treat!
Going handmade is also a great way to get the kids involved. You could make your own Christmas decorations together, decorate photo frames or make festive biscuits.
Another personal idea is creating a scrapbook of memories or a photo book documenting a special relationship or event that you’ve experienced together.
Consider Sparking Their Curiosity With Your Gift
You can also think about giving the gift of curiosity. When you think about the person you want to gift to, think about what would inspire their curiosity to maybe try something new, explore a subject further or make new connections with others. Curious Agenda’s Intern Rose loves to cook and just recieved a food processor as a gift. Her curiosity has been ignited about how she can explore new recipies and create new dishes!
Some gift ideas to spark curiosity could be:
A journal with prompts to encourage self-reflection.
A subscription box from an independent business; think mystery books, puzzles, or foodie treats.
Create a treasure hunt or wonder walk for them that you could go on together
Look at local events happening in the town - are there tickets you could gift for something happening in our community?
Release the Pressure of Perfection
Curiosity invites us to approach gift-giving with playfulness rather than perfectionism. It’s not about finding the “best” gift, instead it’s about enjoying the process of giving and connecting with your friends, family and loved ones.
We can approach finding a gift with curiosity by asking ourselves some questions first, such as ‘why am I giving this gift?’ and ‘how do I want someone to feel when they receive it?’ Taking time to focus on the meaning behind the gift rather than how much it cost will not only shine through to the receiver, but will also leave you with a greater sense of joy and connection, which far outweighs the ease and speed of a few clicks on Amazon!
When we gift with curiosity, we don’t just give presents - we give presence, thoughtfulness, and care. This year, let’s make the festive season less about “stuff” and more about wonder, connection, and joy.