Gift Ideas | The Gifted Tree

3 Tips For Grieving The Loss Of A Pet

If you are like me, dealing with the loss of a pet is one of the most difficult things we will ever handle. Pets are a family member and bring so much comfort and unconditional love, it is totally understandable that losing them can be emotionally devastating. Our pets play such an important role in our daily lives, as 70% or more of US households have a pet, it is very painful when we lose our pets. And to compound things, if you are a dog owner, again like me, losing “man’s best friend’” will happen a number of times over your lifetime as one is more likely to get a new dog when the old one crosses the rainbow bridge. Thus, pet loss grief is a reoccurring theme.

Because our pets are such valued members of the family and have gotten us through some difficult times, it is not unusual to be hit hard by this loss. Our furry friends hold a special place in our hearts, and their passing leaves an indelible void. Grief is a natural response to this loss, and it’s essential to navigate through the emotions in a healthy and supportive manner. In this blog post, we will explore three strategies and coping mechanisms to help you and your family deal with the death of a family pet.

1. Acknowledge and Validate Your Feelings

The first step in coping with the death of a family pet is acknowledging your emotions. We love our pets because they’re by our side through thick and thin. They’re loyal and loving; they never fail to make us smile, even when times are tough. For dog owners, who does not remember arriving home after a tough day at work, walking in the house to a wagging tail and kisses on your face. The loss of a pet is devastating in a way that few people understand if they haven’t also had the experience of losing a pet. It’s common to feel a range of emotions such as sadness, grief, guilt, and even anger. These emotions are completely normal, and you need to realize that this grief is valid and real. Allow yourself and your family members the space to express these feelings without judgment. Remember, it’s okay to grieve the loss of your beloved pet.

2. Communicate and Share Memories

Sharing memories and stories about your family pet can be a healing experience. Sit down as a family and reminisce about the happy moments, funny antics, and the unconditional love your pet brought into your lives. Open communication creates a supportive environment where everyone can express their emotions and find solace in these shared memories. However, as you remember the great times together with your animal, recognize that everyone grieves differently and in a different timeframe. We don’t want to be judgmental if a family member is not feeling the same as you. Doctor Amy Sullivan, a psychiatrist at the Cleveland Clinic emphasizes, “What’s important is that we recognize that people are experiencing these feelings, and we support them and guide them in each of these different emotions.”

Furthermore, if need be, tap your support system from outside your family group. Reach out to friends, family, or fellow pet owners who have experienced a similar loss. They can provide understanding, empathy, and valuable advice. Additionally, consider joining a pet loss support group either in person or online, where you can connect with others who are going through similar grieving processes. Try Googling “pet loss support group near me” and you should be able to learn about a number of support possibilities near where you live.

3. Create Physical Memorials

Consider celebrating the life of a departed pet by creating a memorial for your pet or for a friend’s pet that has passed. Physical memorials are one of the easiest ways to remember a pet. Planting a memorial tree has become a popular and perfect way to honor the memory of a lost pet. A memorial tree for a pet sends the message that you understand and that you’re there during this difficult time. (What dog would not want to have a tree planted in its memory? Especially if your dog enjoyed being outside and taking walks in the woods.) Whether you’re looking for a meaningful way to remember your own beloved pet after they’ve crossed the rainbow bridge or you’d like to send a tribute to a friend or family member who has lost a faithful companion, a memorial tree for the loss of a pet will create a perfect remembrance gift and a lasting legacy. Planting a tree in honor of a dog, cat, bird, or other animal is an endearing and enduring pet loss gift and one that provides many benefits to our planet as well. Engaging in these memorial activities allows you and your family to pay tribute to the love and joy your pet brought into your lives or those of a friend. The Gifted Tree allows you to honor a beloved companion by planting a tree in US National Forests to create a memorable pet memorial. Several unique and handcrafted tribute designs and pet loss cards are available to send to yourself or to the family of those who lost a family pet. One aspect I really like about the website is if you are struggling to find that perfect pet loss message to include with a tribute, there is a full page of pet loss quotes and poems that you can use. One of my favorites is: “Somewhere between hello and goodbye, there was love, so much love.”

Conclusion

Losing a family pet is an incredibly challenging experience, and coping is a process that can take a long time. But with time, support, and self-care, healing is possible. Remember that grief is a unique journey for each individual in your family, and everyone may cope with it differently. Be patient and understanding with yourselves and each other as you navigate this difficult time. Cherish the memories of your furry friend and allow their love to continue to bring warmth and joy to your lives. As Dr. Sullivan concludes herself “I don’t think you ever move on — you move forward, and the relationship you have with each pet is different. No one’s going to replace that.”

July 18, 2023/by Doug Bell

Gift Ideas, Tree Planting

Gift a Newborn the Most Unique Gift Ever

The Gifted Tree is a company dedicated to planting trees worldwide, whether to honor the memory of loved ones, celebrate special occasions, or simply as a thoughtful gift. With a remarkable track record of planting over 100,000 trees across more than 40 countries since 2013, they actively contribute to forest restoration efforts and the fight against climate change. The Gifted Tree team has also spent countless weekends planting trees in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park located close to their office. When you purchase a tree through The Gifted Tree, a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company, you can select the number of trees to plant, the planting location and craft a personalized message for the recipient on a custom hand-crafted tribute card. Additionally, when you gift a tree you can opt to receive the tribute card with the certificate of planting yourself or have it delivered directly to the recipient.

The Gifted Tree presents an exceptional opportunity to bestow a distinctive and impactful gift that makes a difference in the world and will be well-remembered and show you care. Trees offer many benefits, including purifying the air, providing wildlife food and shelter, and aiding soil erosion prevention. By participating in their tree planting program, you actively contribute to creating a more sustainable future for our planet.

Why We Buy Gifts for a Newborn

Demonstrating our affection and solidarity towards the parents: Welcoming a new baby is a significant life event, and expressing our support as friends and family can be invaluable. A gift is a tangible representation of our care and willingness to assist the parents in any way possible.

Assisting with the financial responsibilities of child-rearing: Raising a child often entails substantial expenses, making a gift a practical contribution that helps alleviate some of the financial burdens. Even a modest gift can have a meaningful impact.

Celebrating the newborn’s arrival: A gift symbolizes our enthusiasm for the new addition to the family and our optimistic outlook for their future. It’s a gesture that conveys our joy and anticipation.

Creating enduring memories: A gift can be a cherished keepsake that holds sentimental value for both the parents and the child throughout the years. It becomes a lasting memento of love and affection shared during this precious time.

A Tree for a Newborn?

You probably wouldn’t think about buying a tree for a newborn because the child cannot yet appreciate its significance. Well, apply that mentality to any gift for a newborn. But with a tree planting, you purchase something that will grow along with the new baby, last for generations, and help the planet. You can purchase birth trees, each corresponding with a birth month, so the gift is a little more thoughtful and unique. The personalized message and card that comes with your gift is something the child will be able to look at and reflect on for the rest of his or her life. And if you are experiencing difficulty in knowing what to say in your personal message, no reason to stress, the website has a page of heartfelt messages from which you can choose. Knowing there is a living piece of the earth out there, prospering throughout your whole life and even after you’re gone, is kind of cool!

The Gifted Tree is a company with a personal touch, so you can call (800) 984-2101 to speak with a real person and learn more today. If you’re ready to pull the trigger and have an expected newborn entering your life, simply visit the website and select the Celebration Tree package to get the most unique gift the child and parents will receive!

June 5, 2023/by Doug Bell

Gift Ideas, How To, News

Plant a Memorial Tree In Ireland – Start a Saint Patrick’s Day Tradition

This Friday, March 17th, millions around the world will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. When we think of Ireland, we think GREEN. After all, Ireland is referred to as the Emerald Isle, an enduring and endearing name. Ireland is called the Emerald Isle for good reason, as it’s covered by lush green grasses that are fed by its mild climate and plentiful rainfall. We would think it is covered with trees, but believe it or not, Ireland is the least tree-covered country in Europe! I bring this fact up as a reason to plant a tree in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day this year. Better yet, make this a start of what should become a St. Patrick’s Day tradition. As important as living trees have been in Ireland’s cultural history, the fact is Ireland needs trees, lots more trees.

The Importance of Trees In Ireland

Living trees have played a central role in the practical daily and spiritual lives of the Irish people. Trees served as landmarks and icons of family and clan identity, and their importance can be measured by the great number of tree-based place names in Ireland – of the 16,000 towns in Ireland, 13,000 are named after trees. Irish myth, story, and music abound with reference to trees, demonstrating the degree to which they were understood and valued by the people. Reference is also made to trees being the home of fairies and spirits. Traveling the Irish countryside, as I have done many times, one is sure to find hand-crafted fairy homes scattered about the forest, always bringing a huge smile to my eyes.

Celtic Birth Trees By Month

The degree to which trees were understood and valued by the culture even goes back centuries. The Celtic druids had a profound connection with trees and believed they were vessels of infinite wisdom. They felt the entire universe existed in the form of a tree. The roots grew deep below, representing the past. The trunk sat in everyday life, representing the present. The branches reached up high into the heavens, representing the future and afterlife. They developed Celtic tree astrology based on the lunar calendar, so it has thirteen astrological signs rather than twelve. Accordingly, the Druids designated a tree to each of the thirteen moon phases in their calendar and associated each tree with a type of personality. They even determined which signs were most compatible. Take a little time and discover more about your birth tree and the personality traits associated with it and with what other birth tree(s) you are most compatible with in our blog about birth trees by months. If you are so inclined, The Gifted Tree offers a birth tree package which includes a package of tree seeds of that particular birth tree, allowing the recipient to plant his or her birth tree in their own yard.

County Wexford, Ireland Planting Project

The Gifted Tree makes it easy to plant both memorial and celebration trees in Ireland this St. Patrick’s Day, or anytime of the year. Our planting project is located in County Wexford in the southeast part of the island. This planting project will make it possible to create a real forest ecosystem with all its potential for biodiversity, a refuge for wild fauna and flora. The species of trees to be planted in this project include oak, birch, alder and other various hardwoods. The planting of dynamic species in this area will help recreate a functional forest ecosystem providing various ecosystem services. The growth of this new sustainably managed forest will capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, thus combating global warming. The diversity of tree species will give this forest greater resilience to the natural hazards such as storms, droughts and diseases that the forests of Europe are more and more regularly subjected to. This project will also bring a forest atmosphere to this agricultural plain landscape with a new landscape layer.

It is possible to visit the planting project virtually on your computer. It is best to view on your PC as opposed to a mobile device. View the general area of your planting by clicking on the following link: https://binged.it/2HSxCjf. Once connected to the map, feel free to zoom in and out to get a feel of the general planting area as well as its location in Ireland, Europe, and the world.

A St. Patrick’s Day Tradition

Now that you know that Ireland needs more trees, go ahead and start a new tradition for St. Patrick’s day, as well as any time of year, and plant a memorial tree or celebration tree in Ireland. A beautiful, majestic tree is a living memorial of life-changing events. Its strength, long lifespan, and regal stature give it a monument-like quality and make it a powerful tribute to a life well lived or an occasion worth of celebration. And that is no blarney.

March 16, 2023/by Doug Bell

Gift Ideas

Planting A Tree For A Passed Loved One

Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult things we go through in life. It is a difficult time of grieving for the family. There are few words to bring comfort. The best thing we can do is remember them and honor them by keeping their memory alive. The Gifted Tree has, for the past ten years, combined honoring loved ones with restoring the earth’s shrinking forests in a powerful and meaningful way to remember those we’ve lost with our memorial gift trees program. Whether you have a tree planted in honor of one you’ve lost or as a gift for somebody going through their own sad time of loss, you can have a tree planted that will live and grow for generations as a living tribute.

What is Involved in Each Gifted Tree

When you have a memorial gift tree planted by The Gifted Tree, a physical tree is not delivered. Instead, select one of our unique card tributes or animated eCards, add your personalized message, and we’ll do the rest by sending the tribute to the recipient, announcing that a gift tree has been planted.

A gift tree is a sapling tree that will be planted in the forest location of your choosing by one of our trusted nonprofit planting partners. Unlike other gift tree companies, we plant trees in the United States AND in 30+ countries around the world including many countries in Europe, the Amazon Rain Forest, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and even Australia! You choose the location that will be most meaningful to the family.

Not Only for Humans

Pets can be just as close to us as our other family members, so we make it possible for our customers to be able to order a pet memorial tree. There isn’t a better way to remember your furry companions than by choosing the tribute design presentation, selecting the number of trees and planting locations, and deciding on a personal and custom message about your pet or the pet that a loved one recently lost. For those struggling to decide what to write on the tree planting certificate, we have a long list of heartfelt suggestions from which to choose. Honoring man’s best friend and our planet is a point of pride for The Gifted Tree.

Other Ideas

Do you want a unique idea for commemorating a communion, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, wedding, or milestone birthday? You will give the gift of life to the earth while presenting your friend or loved one with the most unique gift they’ll receive, a celebration tree. Our beautiful handmade seed paper cards or 3-D pop-up cards are perfect for celebration favors, as they can be easily transported and set on a table for people to take as they leave your reception or party!

When you’re ready to learn more, we have a friendly staff to help you today. Call us toll-free at 800-984-2101 with questions or to start the order process today. Feel free to email us at help@thegiftedtree.com, and we’ll get you a response within 24 hours. You can also join The Gifted Tree community by filling out the website form to learn about new tree planting locations, learn interesting tree facts, read stories, or receive exclusive promotions.

February 21, 2023/by Doug Bell

Gift Ideas

5 Green Corporate Gifts to Give Your Company Employees or Customers

Essentially, when you buy a green corporate gift, you are getting two for the price of one. How so? Well, you are giving a gift to the recipient – and you are also giving a gift to the world around you.

Before you swipe that card and make your next gift purchase, let’s take a look at 5 green corporate ideas you can give your company’s employees or customers.

Why Green Gifts?

Businesses that are making a positive impact on our future have already begun to incorporate sustainability practices into their workplace in one way or another. That means they are taking steps to reduce the waste that they produce as a company so that they can do their part to protect the environment and help moderate the effects of global warming and climate change.

To stay in alignment with the company’s principles, it only makes sense that any corporate gifts should be green and sustainable.

So, what’s in a green gift? There are certain traits of green gifts, such as having very little packaging – or, at the very least, truly 100% recyclable packaging. Also, gifts that come from companies that are environmentally friendly, whether it is in the gift itself or the practices used in their materials and manufacturing – or both!

Looking for some ideas? We’ve got a few you can choose from.

Five Green Corporate Gift Ideas

Ready to shop? Take inspiration from these 5 green gift ideas for your company.

Plant a Tree

What if you could plant a tree in honor of someone or something – especially when you are celebrating them? It’s like naming the stars, except you are planting a real, tangible tree that will give back to the planet. And you get to choose where to have your trees planted, such as in the US & Canada, Europe, Rainforest South & Central America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Trees commonly symbolize growth and prosperity, making them a fitting gift to give to someone with whom you have a business relationship or to recognize employee contributions. Receiving a hand-crafted, unique tribute noting the tree planting location along with a custom, personalized message is sure to make the recipient feel good and show them you care.

As more companies look to reduce their environmental footprint, planting a tree makes an eco-conscious statement about your corporate beliefs and social responsibility — making this one powerful gift.

Food

You can’t get much more sustainable and green than an edible gift. After all, once you eat it, it’s gone, right? Choose snacks and treats from companies that deliver the items with a reusable pouch or in recycled containers. You aren’t just looking for snacks from anywhere, but rather those that come with a purpose. And, yes, you can always have the items branded if you’d like.

Reusable Items

You can make a difference by investing in corporate gifts that urge the recipient to build more green practices into life, such as a reusable tumbler or water bottle, a reusable straw and carrying case, a reusable tote, or lunch tote, and so forth.

There are many companies out there that sell reusable products. The idea is to stick to your values and choose those that offer well-designed reusable products created in an environmentally-friendly way.

Solar-Powered Items

Solar power is becoming more and more popular as it can provide all the benefits of something with electrical or battery power – without either. Simply using the sun, you can charge up battery chargers, radios, lights, an oven, and so much more. By giving these gifts you are encouraging the recipient to try something new – and confirm that dependence on electricity doesn’t have to be the only option.

A Spa Day at Home

There are many sustainable, environmentally friendly, and fair-trade products on the market to provide everyone with an at-home spa day. What a great way to show appreciation for everything they need to feel rejuvenated. With candles, pure bath beads, and the like, supporting small, eco-friendly businesses can be a win for everyone involved.

Green Corporate Gifts from The Gifted Tree

Sure, we’ve given you some ideas for green corporate gifts. But, the truth is – there is just something about the powerful impact that planting a tree in honor or recognition of someone’s accomplishments, life, and achievements can have. And, if you are looking for corporate gifts, imagine how many trees you could plant – and how great of an impact you could have!

If you would like to learn more about The Gifted Tree’s corporate tree planting program, contact us at (800) 984-2101 or you can easily get started on your order online.

March 19, 2022/by Doug Bell

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