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Social leaders know that the holidays is a time to reconnect and celebrate the people in their lives. This holiday season, follow the social leader approach to gift-giving.

Give the Gift of Time

Loneliness, studies show, is an epidemic. So, your time is the most precious gift you can give. You can:

Spend time with older members of your community

Organize family get-togethers and outings to revive long-lost traditions

Give your family and friends IOU’s to accompany them on their favorite activities throughout the year

Volunteer your time for a local non-profit

Give the Gift of Compassion

Your recently divorced neighbor may not need yet another scarf, but she could probably use a friendly ear. Do a mental review of everyone in your life: What does each person NEED (if you don’t know, feel free to ask)? Is it something you can facilitate? If so, go for it!

Unleash your creativity by making a physical representation of your gift. Can you imagine, for example, getting a bag of fortune cookies that say “1 night of free babysitting”? Or, a tear-off poster for “free hugs”? What about a funny video announcing a year’s worth of “tech help” for your technology-challenged uncle?

Give the Gift of Support

Harness the spirit of the holidays by supporting a local social leader. There are many people in your community working to make the world a better place. So give the gift of support by making a donation in your loved one’s name. Choose a cause each person is passionate about. If your best friend loves dogs, make a donation to the local dog adoption organization for her. That way, your friend gets both the satisfaction AND the tax break!

Remember, make the holidays about love, not stuff.

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