The Holidays are drawing near and shoppers are busily attending to their gift buying. While some people have a very easy time and know exactly what to get, others are stuck and in need of ideas.

Even if you know exactly what to buy, sometimes we may hear about a new product or item that we have not previously thought of or heard about and consider that as a great gift for a loved one.

Hence today, I hope to give you some more ideas in the 3^rd Part of the Healthy and Meaningful Holiday Gift Ideas Series, with a look at entertainment, which includes books, videos, music and more! By the way if you missed the first 2 parts, Part 1 was about Personal Products and Part 2 was about Food Products.

Books

Books are always a great gift and can make a very meaningful gift for someone and be thrifty for you. This of course is valid, as long as you have a person that you know generally likes books or wants to learn something.

Most books today can be purchased easily worldwide off of Amazon.com, Amazon.ca or Amazon.co.uk and you may easily also qualify for quick and free shipping. If you prefer to browse the books personally then in store is still a great way to go, however note that almost always you will pay more for the book in the physical store rather than in the on-line store.

Books are great for people of all ages and again are very thrifty as most books today range around $10 – $30.

Book Gift Do’s

• Do consider educational health, body, science, space, environment, technology etc., books rather than novels. Although novels are entertaining, the higher meaning and value comes from non-fiction books.
• Do research the book before buying to be sure it at least somewhat represents your philosophy, has credible information and is generally a good read.
• Do consider writing a personal dedication in the book from you to the person you are offering it to, as this may serve as a nice memento.
• If completely stuck on what to buy, do consider famous and well-respected authors
• For health books consider names like: like Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Christiane Northrup. You really cannot go wrong with any of their books.
• Aside from health books, another meaningful book area to consider are self-development/self-growth books. Good and trusted names to consider are any books from: Dr. Wayne Dyer, James Ray, Louise Hay, Marianne Williamson, Eckhart Tolle.
• Do consider Evolving Wellness’ Resource section for some great, trusted health books or Evolving Beings’ Resource section for some great self-growth/spirituality books.

Book Gift Don’ts

• Don’t push your views upon someone else using a book. Even though you may believe in a certain author, way of life, etc., if you know the other person doesn’t, there is nothing meaningful in getting them that book.
• If buying used books from Amazon, don’t leave it to the last minute as they take longer than new ones to ship (usually a week or more, as opposed to a few days for new ones).

Videos

Many people both young and old enjoy videos or movies. However to make your gift “healthy and meaningful” try to break out of the usual Hollywood blockbusters filled with drama and negativity and again consider some meaningful and educational documentaries.

This past year, several amazing documentaries have hit the scene in the three most prominent areas to our growth and well being, those being in the areas of health, environment and self-growth.

Most videos range in the $20 – $30 price range and hence can also be a thrifty way to get someone a meaningful gift.

Environment

Newly Released:

“A Delicate Balance” – available PPV for $4.95

1. Aftermath: Population Zero

2. The 11th Hour

3. Planet Earth: The Complete Series [HD DVD]

4. Who Killed the Electric Car?

5. An Inconvenient Truth

Health:

Newly Released:

“A Delicate Balance” – available PPV for $4.95

“Food Matters” – available PPV for $4.95

“Processed People”

1. The Future of Food

2. Sicko (Special Edition)

3. Super Size Me

4. Elmo’s World – Food, Water & Exercise

Self-Growth:

Newly Released:

“You Can Heal Your Life”

“Spirit Space”

1. You Can Heal Your Life, the movie, expanded version

2. Spirit Space; A Journey Into Your Consciousness

3. What the Bleep!? – Down the Rabbit Hole (QUANTUM Three-Disc Special Edition)

Music

Music always makes a great gift, but in order to make it “healthy and meaningful” we have to consider music that is soothing to our mind, body and soul.

CD’s range in price usually from $10 – $30 and hence are also a thrifty gift and can be suitable for most adults who enjoy relaxing or who need to make some time in their life for calming moments and stress reducing techniques.

Again, instead of the popular artists, whose music can be enjoyable and soothing or negative and disturbing, consider new types of beautiful tones and music without any vocals, like nature sounds. Today, yoga, pilates, meditation, etc., is climbing in popularity and hence if you have someone with such interests in your life, you can consider getting them a “healthy and meaningful” gift through the gift of calming music.

Good compilations to consider include:

• Hush - Quiet Music for a Loud World
• Satori – Music For Yoga And Meditation
• Quiet Heart & Spirit Wind
• Tribal Dreaming
• Buddha Nature

Electronics

I am not going to be telling you about the typical electronics, as this is not the place for that, but I did want to mention to you the latest innovation and hot item to hit the market and that is the Amazon Kindle. Hence, if you have a larger budget and want to buy that certain new, hot item for that special someone, then the kindle may be it.

The Kindle was heavily promoted by Oprah earlier this fall as one of her new favorite things. What is the kindle? Well if you or someone you know loves to read lots of books, the kindle is an electronic device to which you can download all your favorite books. This means you can be anywhere in the world, and all you have to pay for is the price of the book, which is many times cheaper than its original hard copy and saves the environment too.

Kindle: Amazon’s Original Wireless Reading Device (1st generation)

Price: $59.99

(7 customer reviews)

56 used & new available from $59.99

Conclusion

Ultimately whatever you get, try to have fun in the process as that is what should be part of the fun of the season. Again, let us remember that gift giving is not a necessity and should never be an obligation, therefore if you choose to partake in this tradition, make sure you are having fun doing it!

Also, do not get wrapped up in comparing the value of the gift to what you think the other person may get you or trying to create a false impression. The best gifts always are the ones that are real and bought from the heart!

When it comes to entertainment ideas, books, videos and music can always make a great gift as long as we put some thought into it. Relaxing is good for our health and therefore be sure that the medium of entertainment supports the idea of health and puts the person in a peaceful and happy state, not one of tension, drama and negativity.

So have fun and before you buy, consider the value of the gift for that person’s health and the message and meaning your gift holds on a deeper, not materialistic level.

*Photograph courtesy of brungrrl

About the author:
Evita Ochel, B.Sc., B.Ed., CHN - is a certified holistic nutritionist, biologist, educator, writer, researcher and speaker in the areas of health, science and holistic wellness. She is a nutritional science expert and her teaching and writing focus on natural, wholesome, plant-based and organic nutrition to achieve optimal health and longevity. Learn more about Evita Ochel or Follow Evita Ochel on Twitter.