In a column that appeared three years ago, you read about my gift-giving philosophy.

That giving an unconventional gift that fulfills a specific need is better than giving a traditional one that doesn’t. Giving one that fulfills a specific need and leads to better health, however, is better still.

And what makes your gift giving absolute genius is if on top of that — and for whatever reason — the recipient would never purchase the item for himself or herself. Such reasons mentioned back then were ones you’d expect: extravagance, indulgence, and expense.

But there is another one. When the gift getter doesn’t fully get that a need exists, with “fully” being the key concept.

For example, everyone gets there’s a need to lift weights (or what’s more accurately called strength train). According to the CDC, though, only about 23 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 do enough of it as part of a comprehensive exercise plan to meet the current guidelines.

And that percentage gets worse if those 65 and over are included — the age group that arguably benefits from it the most. Yet the fact remains: too many people of all ages still don’t strength train.

While many say the fear of getting hurt or looking foolish in front of others is the reasons why, I say they lie — but not intentionally. They simply fail to realize what’s really behind those feelings.

A lack of faith in themselves to do strength training in the proper manner.

If you know somebody like that — even if that somebody is not yet a senior citizen — why not give them a holiday gift that’s absolute genius, albeit a bit unconventional?

Faith.

Faith that comes in the form of a strength-training bible, The Strength Training Bible For Seniors (VeloPress, 2024). And if you are lacking this sort of faith too, why not get a second copy for yourself?

Because author Dr. Karl Knopf knows he’s not necessarily preaching to the choir, he first explains all the benefits that come from a comprehensive strength-training program. Such as increasing muscle, strength, flexibility, and mind-body awareness while reducing the risk of falling, poor posture, and low-back pain.

He then illustrates how to stretch, something that’s not nearly as intimidating to first-timers as lifting dumbbells or kettlebells properly. Yet when Knopf instructs how to do both, it’s anything but.

The visuals are easy to follow, modifications are suggested, and the specific body parts affected by the exercise are given. Everything a newbie, a wannabe, or a scaredy-cat could ask for.

In addition, there’s a specific section on how to train the core, an often-neglected area of the body. The Appendix contains information on the ins and outs of aging to serve as motivation to get to it now that you know how and why.

One other thing that people don’t often “get to” — but not for lack of knowing how or why — is drinking water at regular intervals throughout the day. In fact, that’s the case for 47 percent of American adults, according to a 2023 Civic Service poll.

Why that’s the case isn’t a mystery.

We’re busy throughout the day, so drinking a few ounces of H2O every hour or so isn’t a priority and easy to forget. And when we do remember to drink a beverage, we prefer it to have taste, so water gets dismissed again.

You can solve this dilemma for a family member or a friend by gifting them with a bottle of Path Sparkling Flavored Water, for its taste, especially the lemon lime, is it impossible to dismiss. Since I had previously taste tested and written about the Still and Alkaline versions Path offers — and gave two thumbs up to both — I didn’t hesitate to taste test this new offering.

But there was a problem in doing so. I had gotten into the habit of drinking sparkling water flat, by opening the bottle hours ahead of time and keeping the cap off.

So the first taste of fully carbonated lemon-lime didn’t strike me as good or bad as much as different. The water also had a dry quality I associate with ginger ale and seltzer, and one I don’t normally enjoy.

Normally.

But I found this combination of the lemon-lime, carbonation, and dryness quite appealing. So much so that I wanted to drink all 20.3 ounces in the reusable and recyclable aluminum water bottle, though I refrained from doing so “in the name of science.”

Such impulse control was well worth it, for it allows me to report that I found the no-cal flavored water in all three flavors just as good a second and a third time.

So if you’re still in need of some stocking stuffers, even for those who already drink enough water, you could solve that problem by picking up a nine pack of Path Sparkling Flavored Water or the Still or Alkaline varieties.