Gifts of Sympathy

People experience and translate their world in many different ways, and sending gifts of sympathy that touch all the senses can make sure the message of comfort gets across loud and clear.

Sympathy for All the Senses

Good memories can be triggered in association with our five basic senses. When we smell something that reminds us of our mother’s cooking, we associate that smell with positive images and memories. When you are sending gifts of sympathy, evoking positive memories through the five senses can be one way to comfort someone who is having a difficult time. The sensual experience can help lighten their mood and bypass the brain, which might be too depressed to process other sympathy wishes.

Gift Baskets That Comfort by Association

It might seem dificult to create a gift basket that delights all the senses. However, it’s an enjoyable task for the giver as well as the receiver. Our gift baskets contain something that will stimulate either one or more of the senses. One basket can contain even all five. By including chocolate for taste, wind chimes for hearing, books for sight, and potpourri for smell and texture, you can have a basket that evokes good memories at the most basic and natural levels of being.

Personalize It

If you know of something in particular that will comfort your friend in need, then you can add it to the gift basket before sending it. If your idea adds a boost to any of the five senses, it can add to the dramatic sensuality to your gifts of sympathy. For instance, if you know of a particular melody or singer that a person especially enjoys, you can add a CD of that artist to the basket. It will show that you took the time to consider that person’s personal tastes and can mean a lot to someone who is suffering or in pain.

Be Timely

People can be struck by bad news at any time. Don’t wait to show your sympathy. Instead, be aware that the sooner you send a comfort basket, the sooner they'll be aware of another loving individual who cares. Gifts of sympathy should be sent as soon as possible to those suffering a trauma to help them feel the outpouring of love from their community. This thoughtfulness can keep them from feeling isolated and helps when depression threatens to become overwhelming.

When you want to comfort someone, try to find baskets that affect all the senses: sound, touch, hearing, sight, and taste.