Dear Swee-tea,
This love letter is dedicated to the friends who have offered to change my bedding for me, no shame attached, who have delivered freezer meals when I have been sick, and who have given me subscriptions to entertainment services because they know in the absence of painkillers, distraction is the next best thing. Gifts do not have to be expensive to be good, and often with chronic pain, it is these acts of service style gifts that are most valuable. With that in mind, here is the ultimate gift guide, for your chronically ill and disabled friends, and everyone else! Because, when you really talk to people, a lot of us are struggling with same thing, disabled or not. Opening jars, comfortable seating, sleep trouble, back pain, needing entertainment…
The Ultimate Gift Guide
Subscriptions Whether it’s a delivery of tea, flowers, snacks, stationery, or books, there are loads of options to make someone’s day or month!
Virtual Subscriptions You can gift music, film + tv streaming services, or a subscription to an online creator through Patreon! I will of course take the opportunity to promote Tea with HB and Poetry Orchard, because they have truly helped people feel less alone by providing community, workshops, and loads of helpful resources, and I am really proud of that! You can gift a Poetry Orchard Workshop Ticket by choosing the Cherry Jelly Tier here or give the joy of bonus Tea with HB content and access to our communi-tea discord!
Shakti You’ve heard me sing the praises of Shakti before because I was given a mat as a gift last year and it has improved my quality of life so, so much! For relaxation, tension relief, and in my case, pain management, any friend you have with back pain will thank you. They have a fantastic sale on at the moment, you can use the code BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off and don’t forget to use my link to get an extra 10% off if you are UK based or use this link if you are based in the USA!
Soft, Cozy, Eco-friendly Clothing again, if you’ve been around for a while, you’ll know BAM clothing is a favourite of mine. I very rarely buy new clothes which is why when I do I want them to be environmentally friendly. BAM has you covered and they sell, without a doubt, the most comfortable socks I have EVER worn! Save 20% by using my link!
Massage Gun yes, it’s more on the expensive side, but considering how expensive massages can be, it is more than worth it, especially since it is 21% off right now. This theragun is beloved by everyone I know, whether they are in chronic pain or not! The design means you can use it by yourself which is super useful. I had a lotttt of trouble trying to get it directly from the Therabody website, so I would highly recommend going through amazon. (I know we try to avoid amazon, but actually if you are disabled, accessibility should come before everything else! Don’t feel guilty if you need to use it.)
Weighted Blanket We all need comfort this time of year, and a weighted blanket is a cozy present anyone will enjoy, as well as being a go-to for helping you sleep better and benefit your mental health! BLOSSOM15 for 15% off!
Loops Ear Plugs Whether your loved one enjoys concerts, conversing in a loud restaurant, or has sensory issues because of autism or another condition, loops are another product that I think everyone should own!
Jar Opener I love this jar opener. Your friend will too.
Coccyx Cushion For those who spend any time sitting, whether in a wheelchair, at a desk, or in a restaurant, everybody should use a Coccyx Cushion, they are just so darn COMFORTABLE!
Good.Store 100% profit to charity. Enough said?! Well everyone can use soap, coffee, tea, or socks, so if you have no idea what to get someone, why not give the gift of good?!
If all of these ideas are out of budget for you, or you don’t want to buy new things because it isn’t environmentally friendly, fear not! I have curated a FREE eco-friendly gift guide so that giving is accessible no matter what!
I let hope go once, and it came back to me. Isn’t that true love?
After “Hope” is the thing with feathers By Emily Dickinson
Hope is a gremlin, Hope is a menace, hope is my face contorted into a grimace Hope is lounging somewhere in the sun calling out for us to go on a whisper across oceans, a sink in our gut arms wrapping round you whilst you do the washing up Hope is loyal like a younger sibling or that stain on your dress Hope asks nothing of us, yet I feel so much pressure to impress Emily, what were you thinking? To believe without duress…
We have a particularly special workshop coming up on, celebrating 2 years of Poetry Orchard with Friendsgiving on Thursday 19th December! ‘Friendsgiving’ is the concept of celebrating Thanksgiving – a holiday traditionally spent with family – with friends instead. The holidays can be a hard time for those who can’t celebrate with their blood family, whether there is a geographical or emotional distance, so we are excited for you to join us in this virtual celebration!
Please consider sharing this gift guide or newsletter with a friend, and thank you as always for taking the time to read!
Love,
HB x
November Favourites
☀️ Good News: I donated 15 inches of my hair to The Little Princess Trust to create wigs for young people impacted by hair loss. I set up a fundraising page so please consider giving money to help fund childhood cancer research (only if you are able to!!) I really, really miss my hair, but it will grow back and is at least much easier to manage haha! Thank you so so much to everyone who has already donated :)
📚 Book: The Hunger Games Trilogy particularly relevant in these troubling times…
📺 TV: Anne with an E and A Man on the Inside
🍿 Movie: Dan in Real Life, Out of My Mind
🖋️ Journal Prompt: What does giving and receiving mean?
🎶 Music: I have created my own ‘lesser known’ Christmas music playlist! I hope you enjoy if you give it a listen!