Rethinking Gift-Giving: Lessons from Nature and Abundance

This holiday season, I received a gift that left a lasting impression on me—a small but profound book titled The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. Its messages feel urgent and essential, especially in a time when giving often becomes a checklist instead of a meaningful act.

Traditionally, we understand the economy through the lens of scarcity—how we manage limited resources. But the book offers a refreshing and necessary shift: it invites us to view the economy through nature's example, focusing on sharing resources to sustain and enhance life for all. This perspective is not just insightful; it’s transformative.

In The Serviceberry, Robin Wall Kimmerer gently challenges our "me-first" mindset. She doesn’t scold, but she does make it clear: the self-centered, individualistic framework of modern capitalism is unsustainable. If we continue down this path, not only will communities suffer, but so will individuals—the “me” we’re so focused on protecting.

So, what can we learn from nature? Everything, really. The serviceberry—a modest, often overlooked plant—plays a vital role in an ecosystem that has thrived for millennia. It nurtures the planet and teaches us the power of reciprocity, interconnection, and abundance. 

One of the book’s most powerful takeaways is the idea of gift-giving. Kimmerer suggests that gifts should not be transactional but relational. A gift can carry meaning, a story, or a piece of yourself. It can be handmade, passed down, or thoughtfully chosen with someone’s heart in mind. When we give in this way, the act transcends obligation and becomes a bond, a reminder of shared humanity and love.

All too often, gift-giving becomes a race to check names off a list or ensure "equal" exchanges. In the process, we lose the joy and opportunity that gifting offers—both in families and in larger systems like businesses. But what if we approached giving through the lens of abundance rather than scarcity? 

One story from the book encapsulates this idea beautifully. An anthropologist studying a hunting-and-gathering culture observed a hunter who had caught a large bison. When asked how he planned to store and preserve the meat, the hunter was confused. He responded, “Store it? I will hold a community feast, and the meat will be stored in the bellies and hearts of my people.” That profound response speaks volumes. It exemplifies true abundance—giving not to hoard, but to strengthen community bonds.

This kind of gift-giving is deeply embedded in many Indigenous cultures, and it’s something we would do well to emulate. It’s also a lesson from nature: abundance thrives when resources are shared and relationships are honored.

As we move into the new year, I encourage you to think differently about giving. Embrace abundance. Start small—perhaps by reading this little book or by infusing your gifts with more meaning and connection. Let your giving be an act of care, a reflection of gratitude, and a step toward a world where abundance isn’t just a concept, but a way of life.