GIFTS FOR THE BROKENHEARTED

Witnessing someone you care about nursing a broken heart can be extremely difficult, and often we feel totally helpless. That said, there are little and big things you can do during this difficult time. Too often people don’t do anything, perhaps because they simply don’t know what to do! I can tell you from personal experience, that doing something - anything - is better than nothing at all. Sometimes even a kind word can mean more than you think. It’s my hope that this special gift guide can give you some thoughtful ideas.

This guide is also for anyone who may be feeling broken hearted. I encourage you to use some of the ideas offered in this guide to do a little something nice for yourself as an act of self-love. And you may also appreciate these two resources,
Surviving My Worst Christmas Ever & Breakup Music Therapy (playlists).

SIMPLE TREASURES

In this section, you’ll find small items that go a long way. Gift them on their own, or create a little care package.

EMPATHY CARDS

Simply giving someone a thoughtful card can be extremely profound. That said it isn’t always easy to find the right card, so a blank one or a simple “thinking of you” card works well. If you’re lost for words just let them know you’re thinking of them, and that things will get better. I still have the cards that people gave me years ago!

MY PICKS: Emily McDowell Studios has a great collection of empathy cards for times when “there’s no good card for that.” And I also LOVE the wine tags by ChezGagne.

CANDLES

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,” W.L. Watkinson, 1907

Candles are a beautiful gift that can be used to calm their senses. Lighting a flame can make us feel less alone with its simple and elegant beauty. I often encourage my clients to light a special candle while they are journaling.

MY PICK: There are lots of great candles out there, but I really liked the ones by Yummi Candles.

JOURNALS

Journaling is an essential practice of heartbreak recovery. I always encourage my clients to buy a new fresh journal to document the ups and downs of their breakup journey. I have many clients who really appreciate having their “Breakup Journal” as a memory once they are in a much better place. (I still have mine.)

MY PICK: I’ve used a lot of journals, but my favourite are the ones by Gallery Leather. You can even get it personalized with the person’s name as a special touch.

$22.00 USD

***I learned years ago that it’s good to opt for blank pages (or dotted) over lined so that you can be more creative. No lines, no rules!

CBD BATH BOMBS

Gifting someone a bath bomb (even men) can encourage them to take a much needed, and often under-practiced, relaxing bath. If you can find one, CBD Bath Bombs can really elevate a traditional bath!

MY PICK: Try the limited edition Black Magic Bath Bomb by Kush Queen. A beautiful blend of Lavender, Chamomile, and Frankincense come together to relax the body and stabilize the mood.

$12.99 CAD

WINTER BLOOMS

Flowers, in general, are always a great gift to brighten up a space. I often recommend buying potted flowers that last longer.

MY PICK: Around the holidays, amaryllis bulbs are sold abundantly. Legend has it that the amaryllis began as a shy, timid nymph. Amaryllis. The striking crimson flower is said to have sprung from the blood of her heart and has come to symbolize determination and radiant beauty.

$15+

BOOKS

Getting a book by someone who’s been there is always a great gift!

Although, there are SO many I could recommend, many of which I list in The Breakup Clinic if I had to recommend a handful, here are my top five picks for reading over the holidays.

EASY READS

In addition to traditional self-help books, gifting an easy read such as How To Win At Life by GQ's Senior Commissioning Editor, Charlie Burton.

This book of over 70 masterclasses for the modern man includes interviews with experts such as Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and yours truly ;-)

VINO

For many, wine and breakups naturally go together so there are many great gift ideas for wine lovers.

The 6 Best Wines for a Breakup

Madeline Puckette, certified sommelier and creator of the NYT Bestseller, “Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine” has a great article on the six classic breakup situations. Whether the love is gone, you regret breaking up, you got cheated on, etc., this article is an entertaining read with some fabulous wine suggestions.

BREAKUP WINE LABELS

Use these wine labels to elevate a bottle of wine to a custom breakup recovery wine. Check out TheRitzyRose for these great labels!

• Pairs Well With Ice Cream and Ugly Crying

• Breakup Juice

• Girl... You Can Do So Much Better

• I Never Liked Him Anyway

BIG REDS

I reached out to wine enthusiast Andre Herbert of @LoveMusicLoveWine for his suggestions on what wines he would pair with a holiday breakup. Without skipping a beat, here’s what he shared with me:

“Definitely a big Shiraz. I would go with something that’s going to attack the palate with bold flavours - oak, leather good tannins; not too overpowering with a lingering, strong finish. Something like Mollydooker Carnival of Love Shiraz 2016 ($79.95) or Michael David’s Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 ($29.95). Both wines will help you forget your current situations, give you an understanding of what’s needed for the future, so you can focus on new beginnings.”

Crystals in the form of jewelry or on their own are great gifts for women and men. Crystals have been used throughout history to symbolize and induce virtues such as strength, courage, and protection. Some of the best stones for heartbreak are clear quartz, chrysoprase ,and onyx, among many others.

MY PICKS: Where do I start! You can easily find loose tumbled stones at most crystal stores, but here is some crystal jewelry I commonly recommend

BEADED BRACELETS

There are lots of great beaded bracelets out there featuring both stone and wooden beads.

Trendhim has an extensive selection of men’s bracelets for you to make a great personal pick.

$19 - $85 CAD

RAGE ROOMS

Rage and anger room are advertised as one of the most unique and cost-effective ways of unleashing your stress and anger, and from what I hear it can be a pretty mean workout too! You basically pay to break things in a controlled environment.

Although I haven’t raged (yet) I can totally understand why someone going through a breakup would find this experience super cathartic, especially for people who have a hard time getting in touch with their anger.

MY PICK: The Rage Room has locations all over the world. For as low as $20 you get protective gear, 30 minutes in a Rage Room. You can either bring your own items or select items from their “Smash Menu.” A fun, and bizarre fact - people love to smash printers!

I also LOVE that they have speakers so you can bring your own playlist, and you can record your rage session for FREE.

$20+ (average session is about $50)

ARGENTINE TANGO

After my engagement ended in 2010, I poured my heartbreak into Argentine Tango. Although I believe dance in general, is great for anyone going through a breakup, I think Tango is especially healing. In addition to the fact that it’s social and it gives you something else to focus on, I believe there is magic in the music. Not only are many Tango songs about heartache, but even the melodies evoke a sort of longing that is cathartic.

If a loved one is heartbroken, perhaps you could offer to take them to a Tango class or buy them a gift certificate

MY PICK: Luckily, there are Tango schools in most major cities. Toronto has a number of great schools, but my pick would be Bulent & Lina. I love the energy between them and they are excellent teachers.

$25/class