Gift exchange – without money involved
I thought of this exercise for my team’s Christmas dinner.
Objective: Create gifts that do not cost you any money, only requiring a spirit of abundance and creativity.
1.everyone sits in a circle
2. pass everyone two pieces of paper and a pen each
3. say, “think of something you would like, that someone around this circle can give to you without spending any money, something that someone can make, or somehow get for you.”
4. You may write one choice, or a few choices. Write your name.
5. fold your paper.
6. someone in the circle, collects the “wish lists”.
7. On the other piece of paper, write something you can give or create for someone else, without spending any money. Something lovely that you already have that you want to give away or something you can make for someone.
8. Write your “offers” and your name.
9. Each one picks one “wish list” and one “offer”, making sure you do not get your own paper.
10. Up to you if you want to disclose what you have gotten as a gift (someone’s “offer”) and what you will be giving (someone’s wish list).
Have fun!
My team and I spend time thinking of our lists. It is actually challenging to think of asking and offering gifts that will not cost us any money. And we told each other what the wish list and offers we received.
From this exercise, the offers include Xbox, holiday, evening bag, massage, website, and the wish lists includes requests for babysitting, family protraits, holiday, music CD.
We have till Christmas 2012 to redeem our gifts.
We each receive two gifts, and no one spends any cent. Just a lot of love, abundance and creativity.
Feel free to use this idea for your team or family. And when you use it, think of me fondly. :) And if you would like, please share your experience with me.
