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While everyone wishes they could be happy and positive all the time, that isn’t the case. During our lives many of us will encounter difficult situations like job loss, the loss of a loved one, an injury, or other event.
If you notice one of your friends, family members or coworkers is dealing with one of these difficult situations, it is a good idea to be sympathetic and show that you care. While there are many ways to do this, one of the best is to give a gift to show your support. Without any further ado, this article is going to go over some thoughtful sympathy gifts to show someone you care.
Flowers
A sympathy flower arrangement is a perfect choice to show your sympathy. Flowers instantly bring a smile to a person’s face, can fill a room with a pleasant scent, and help any space in a home look better and more natural.
There are many reasons why we give sympathy flowers. They can show you care, put a smile on someone’s face when they need it, and can often help us express our sympathy when words fail us.
As for which flowers you send, it depends entirely on what is available, and what the recipient enjoys. Also, every flower has a hidden meaning that you should be sure to learn about. This can help you decide on a flower that is appropriate for this situation, and not one that will send mixed signals.
A Heartfelt Note or Card
Another great option is to give the individual a heartfelt note or card. While this gift might not be as large or as expensive as others, it can be just as (if not more) meaningful. The card should be handwritten, and you should ensure it is full of kindness, shows your support, and helps lift an individual up.
As far as the exact things you include, that is up to you. You should always begin by offering your condolences, and then can offer words of encouragement, tell stories, bring up happy memories and find other ways to lift a person’s spirits. While you could technically send a text, and that is fine, a handwritten note is often a more appropriate choice.
The note can be as short as a few sentences, or as long as a few paragraphs. The choice is yours, and depends how close you were, or what you feel like including in the note. You can also add a small gift of some kind to go alongside the note, but this isn’t required.
A Gift Box or Basket

A solid choice for those looking to help an individual feel better is a gift box or basket. If someone is struggling, getting a box of their favorite things can make them feel a bit better. You can include their favorite snacks, their favorite beverages, or even some candles, lotions, or other products that they enjoy.
You can buy plenty of gift boxes out there that feature many different items, but can also make your own. It’s as easy as finding a basket or box to use, choosing some of their favorite things, and wrapping it up beautifully.
A Personalized Candle
Candles are very relaxing and most of us have at least one in our homes. They provide a little bit of subtle lighting, and can fill a home with a pleasant scent. They come in all different scents and colors, and can help transform a space into one of relaxation and rest.
These are two things that people who have experienced hardships can definitely use more of. Gifting a candle can help someone calm down and relax after dealing with something difficult, and help them give their mind a break.
There are thousands of different kinds of candles out there, so finding one perfect for your recipient will be easy. You can even create your own if you so choose, which can be a nice personal touch to the gift.
While normal candles are great, a personalized candle can take this idea a step further. You can add a kind quote, a reassuring message, or even a photo. Every time the recipient uses this candle, they will think of you and appreciate the gesture.
A Helpful Book
When something like this happens to a person, it can often leave them feeling exhausted, stressed, depressed, and struggling to cope. In these situations, a helpful book might be one of the best gifts you can give them. These can get them back on their feet, have them thinking more positively, or find helpful ways to cope with their troubles.
These books can be about meditation, how to develop better coping mechanisms, self-care, and plenty of others. Many of these are full of helpful tips, practices, and activities that can aid in helping them feel better.
Giving them a book like this shows you care for them, and that you want them to come out of this situation in the best shape possible. You could even get them a novel based on their favorite genre or theme to allow them a temporary break from the struggles and allow them to escape the world for a little while.
A Weighted Blanket
A weighted blanket is an underrated sympathy gift, but is one that can have brilliant benefits. These blankets normally weigh between 5 and 30 pounds, and the pressure from the weight is meant to feel like a hug, and can be a form of pressure therapy.
The benefits of weighted blankets include the relief of stress, easing anxious feelings, improving sleep, and even helping reduce and relieve the symptoms associated with depression. These are all things someone might struggle with after a major loss of some kind, so a weighted blanket can be a major help.
In conclusion, we hope that this article has shown you some of the many thoughtful sympathy gifts you can give to others to show you care.