Choosing Love: The Heartfelt Art of Gift-Giving This Holiday Season

Hi, I’m Michelle Hays – welcome to Monarch for Love! As we prepare for the holidays, I can’t help but think back to the magical anticipation I felt as a child waiting for Christmas. I was the kid who couldn’t sleep, straining to hear Santa’s sleigh on the roof. That kind of childlike wonder is something we all once knew deeply.

But somewhere along the way, adulthood crept in. Our excitement faded, replaced with to-do lists, shopping stress, and endless wrapping paper. We forget to feel the joy. We forget how to play. And maybe—just maybe—we forget how to love with that same wide-eyed wonder.

But what if this year could be different?

The holidays don’t have to feel like a chore. Joy is still available to you. Wonder is still waiting. And it starts with one powerful shift: your mindset.

You get to choose how you see this season. You can focus on stress or on how lucky you are to give love to the people who matter most.

Let’s talk about gift-giving. I used to be “that person” who had everything wrapped by Thanksgiving and cards sent the next day. But things have changed. These days? I’ve bought one gift, and I still have no clue what I’m getting my husband Brian. (So yes, I see you if you’re behind!)

And I know one of the hardest gifts to shop for is often our spouse. You want to get it right. But how?

Here’s my best advice: choose with love, not convenience.

Skip the last-minute gadgets or the uninspired gifts that say “I didn’t know what to get you.” Instead, give the gift of thoughtfulness. Choose what they would love—not what you want to give.

You already know what lights up your partner. So instead of grabbing a bunch of small, forgettable items, focus on one meaningful thing. Something that shows you truly see them. Something that says, “I was paying attention.”

Even a heartfelt card can do more than you expect. If you’ve been short on quality time lately, maybe your gift is a simple day trip together. Or better yet, plan to do something they love—even if it’s not your thing.

My husband doesn’t love hiking, but I do. Every once in a while, he’ll come along anyway. He does it for me. And that’s what makes it special.

Thoughtfulness doesn’t have to be extravagant. It just has to be real.

I still remember one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever received. Years ago, after visiting a stunning winery, a man I was dating recreated a branch arrangement from the winery—complete with hanging candles and a handwritten note. It wasn’t the object. It was the care. The memory. The love.

Here’s a practical tip: throughout the year, take note of what lights your partner up. Snap a picture. Write it down in your notes app. Come holiday season, you’ll have a treasure trove of truly personal gift ideas.

Because in the end, the best gifts don’t come from a store. They come from the heart.

So this holiday, choose love. Choose presence over perfection. Choose thoughtfulness over obligation. That’s the magic.

And remember: it’s not the price of the gift that makes it meaningful. It’s the intention behind it.

Wishing you joy, wonder, and so much love this season.

Happy Holidays, Michelle

P.S. If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a little reminder that love is the best gift of all.