For years, I've maintained that the best gifts to give someone is something personal. I've always been the person who didn't like giving gift cards or other monetary or quasi-monetary gifts. But recently, a wise friend helped change my mind.

She is getting married in a few months, and she and her fiancé have both been on their own for a while. They have no need for more stuff to add to the clutter. They want to experience things together, building the memories that will sustain and enliven their life together. So, there registry allows their friends and loved ones to help provide for these experiences.

She made me think. If I'm going to preach about living simply and prioritizing people and experiences over things, how can I not support people who don't want things as gifts? So I picked an experience that is meaningful to both of us and that will be her gift from me.  Her gift to me was a new way of thinking about gift-giving.