Fathers don’t need more stuff. They already have stuff, lots and lots of it in fact.
They’ve got ties, power tools, cuff links, belts, fishing lures, personalized beer mugs, golf balls, whiskey flasks, key rings, nail clippers, they’ve got it all, so don’t waste your time or money on even more stuff he doesn’t want or need.
What your Pop really needs is experiences.
Moments he’s going to remember forever, unique moments that mean really something. Whether your unique gift experience is a hand-written Post-it note simply bearing the words, ‘Thanks Dad’, or just some time spent in conversation, either in person, or over the phone, these simple things are far more valuable than any of the material possessions which will go towards making up the $16 billion spent by Americans for Fathers’ Day in 2019.
Don’t let the magazines tell you how to treat your dad.
You’re never going to hear your Dad talk passionately over a couple of beers with his buddies about the amazing golf balls he got for Fathers’ Day. Sure, he might really love them and love the fact that they were a present from you, but a set of four golf balls are never going to make for a good story – unless of course, he stole them from Tiger Woods’ golf bag. Now that would be a story.
Your Dad needs real experiences, adventures (and I don’t mean Indiana Jones-style adventures), he needs to create new memories, and new stories to tell. And he deserves them. If you can give him this, you’re going to make him a very happy man. And don’t forget, even experiences which might not live up to the hype can still make for great stories (trust me, a dose of food poisoning in East Africa still makes for a great tale).
Despite the stereotypes we might have of fathers (Thank you marketing) – golf, fishing, football, beer, etc. etc. etc. – every dad is different. Every dad is unique. They have their own likes and dislikes, so don’t let some flashy website or glossy magazine tell you what your precious dad needs and deserves. What do they know? After all, you know him way better than they ever will.
Thankfully, it’s never been easier to give the gift of experiences.
Travel is one of the best gifts you can give anyone – and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are companies, just like Tinggly, who give you the opportunity to gift hundreds of experiences at one time, letting your Dad choose the one he wants when he wants it. With the Tinggly Gift Boxes he can choose from; travel, adventure, fine dining, brewery and winery visits, city escapes, hotel breaks, ultimate driving experiences, flying, ballooning… the list goes on and on, with something for every taste.
But here’s the real beauty. Your Dad doesn’t have to dig into his Gift Box of treasures right away, the experience gift voucher has UNLIMITED VALIDITY, meaning the king of the castle can decide to take his experience at a time and place – worldwide – that totally suits him.
Here’s a small taster of how Pop can embrace the experiences Tinggly has to offer worldwide.
USA
- Catch the breeze and go sailing in Newport, Rhode Island.
- Swim with wild manatees in Florida.
- Get him to Texas for a San Antonio walking food tour (for two).
- Visit the home of The King, Elvis Presley’s Graceland, Tennessee.
- Head to Maryland for the original Baltimore Brewery Tour.
- Take to the skies and experience a VIP helicopter flight over the Las Vegas strip.
- The Big Apple is calling with a New York lobster and beer cruise.
- Take a walk on the wild side with a Morning wildlife safari adventure in Wyoming.
Worldwide
- How about a visit to Mexico’s world-famous Chichen-Itza pyramids.
- Want a real buzz? Try a beekeeping taster experience for two in beautiful France.
- Sample the real heart of Nepal on a two day Chitwan jungle safari experience.
- Experience Iceland’s Miracles of Nature tour – and Dad can even bring a friend.
- He’ll never forget his first views of Ireland’s spectacular Cliffs of Moher.
- Let him drive a Ferrari or Lamborghini in Europe’s hidden jewel, Lithuania.
- Has he got a head for heights? How about a bungee jump for two in South Africa.
- Hit the water with a thrilling jet boat experience in Queenstown, New Zealand.
What is the chemistry of experience?
People want stories, they’ve always wanted stories, and they always will. As the writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “But how could you live and have no story to tell?” The truth is, we all need a story to tell, it’s a basic human need.
That’s why experience gifts are always popular, not just on Fathers’ Day, but every day. Experience gives us stories that we can share.
When humans hear a story which somehow touches our psyche, our body releases a hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin makes us feel good, it increases our feelings of compassion, empathy, connection, and trust. Therefore, it’s no great leap of faith to realize that stories give us the power to connect on a deeper, more personal level, and who wouldn’t that?
When you hear a great story – one that’s well told – the listener hears it as if it were their own story, one they can deeply relate to.
It’s for this reason we connect with great books, movies, podcasts, and even art. They are all means of telling our stories.
Sharing our experiences and stories create the feeling that we are part of something that is bigger than ourselves. By gifting an experience that creates stories, we gift the ability for the recipient to grow and to expand as a human being. Perhaps this is the greatest give you can give to anyone.
We don’t need more stuff, we need more stories. So, it might be a good thing to remember the wise words of Sir Richard Branson, “Material things are delightful, but they’re not important.”
Stories are important, and always will be.