help_outline Skip to main content
4818 Washington Blvd., #48
St. Louis, MO 63108
(617)299-9638
vtv@vtvnetwork.org
Village to Village Network is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
(EIN# 27-1063665)
Add Me To Your Mailing List
HomeCalendarAct Today to Gift Your Loved Ones a ‘Why’ - Feb. 8 @ 1 PM ET

Calendar - Event View

This is the "Event Detail" view, showing all available information for this event. If the event has passed, click the "Event Report" button to read a report and view photos that were uploaded.

Act Today to Gift Your Loved Ones a ‘Why’ - Feb. 8 @ 1 PM ET

When:
Wednesday, February 08, 2023
Additional Info:
Category:
External Presentations
Registration is recommended
Payment In Full In Advance Only
No Fee

Act Today to Gift Your Loved Ones a ‘Why’  ---February 8---10 AM PT, 11 AM MT, 12 PM CT, 1 PM ET


We often take great joy in gifting our loved ones mementos from our lives, our travels, and sometimes our family histories. (Hello family heirlooms and antiques!) The gift may be exquisite, but without the ‘why,’ our loved ones may be left wondering, what is this, why do I now have it, and what am I supposed to do with it (not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings being top priority).


As the founders of Artifcts, we’ve thought a lot about the power of why, and the magic that ensues when you gift a loved one a why along with that beloved family heirloom. Curious? We’ve boiled it down to the four superpowers of why: 

  1. KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

    Yes, journalists have written ad-nauseum in major print and digital publications that no one wants your stuff, but we think based on our experience over the years, they’re missing the mark. True, your children may not want random pieces of furniture with no history, story, or memory associated with them, but that dining room table, the one they grew up with, that could be a keeper. Love letters that Grandpa sent to Grandma during WWII? A family treasure.


    Taking a moment to document and share the story, history, and memory behind the item makes it much more valuable and not just in the financial sense. We’re talking about heart value here, the emotional connection that binds one generation to the next.


  2. CONNECTING PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS

    If you are going to make your niece cart around a sitting Buddha sculpture for her remaining days as part of your last will and testament, tell her why! Does it remind you of the trip the two of you took together when she was younger? Does it symbolize something special that you hope to share with her?


    Wills and estate plans by nature focus on the what and often neglect the why. And that’s if the will even references an itemized list of tangible assets! The reality then is loved ones may act out of obligation to respect your wishes and hang onto the items you give them but with a tinge of disgruntled acceptance.

  3. REDUCING CONFLICT

    Imagine two people who feel equally attached to an object that once belonged to a deceased loved one. In the will, the object goes to one of those people. To squash any potential disappointment or misdirected anger at the recipient, the owner could share the why and explain the bond between the person and/or object and recipient. Closure, in this case, is another great gift of the why. 

  4. LASTING MEMORIES & LEGACY

Memory is fickle. Did you make up three different versions of events as to how that painting came into your collection? Did you ever tell the story? Set the record straight with any combination of photos, video, audio, and a brief (or long!) story as you Artifct your truth of that object.

Want to gift your loved ones a ‘why’ but not sure where to start? Artifcts can help! Here are some of our favorite public Artifcts to help inspire you: