With the holidays fast approaching, many people are busy making shopping lists of gifts to give family, friends, and co-workers. Now is a great time to remind people that while giving and receiving gifts is great fun, there is also an art to gift-giving.
Yes, I said gift-giving is an art. Too many times people see gift-giving as something that’s expected, an obligation. If you feel that way about giving a gift to someone, then perhaps you should reconsider giving that person a gift.
Keep in mind that a gift should never be given for any other reason than that you want to delight the person receiving the gift. The one thing that makes a gift truly special is that there is no strings attached to its giving. If you are giving a gift and expecting something in return, then you are giving the gift for the wrong reason and should therefore not bother to give a gift at all.
You should also be giving the gift from your own free will and not out of a sense of obligation. Giving a gift because you feel compelled to, renders the entire idea of gift-giving meaningless.
If you are giving a gift because you want to, and do not expect something in return then you should know that person well enough to select that gift without the help of others. I have seen many articles where people advise you to ask someone else or even the person themselves what they would like in order to ensure that the gift you give will be appreciated.
My advice would be, rather than ask someone else what to get for the person you want to buy for, you spend a little time talking to them and discover for yourself what their interests are, what they like and don’t like. Knowing that you cared enough to actually listen to them in everyday conversation will make the gift far more special to them.
There is nothing worse than asking someone’s advice about a gift, buying it and then finding out that the person you listened to did not have a clue as to what the person really wanted. Not only will the recipient of the gift be disappointed, but you will find yourself angry with both the person who gave you the idea for the gift and yourself.
Many times a person will tell you what they think a person should have or should want, rather than telling you what they really want. It is better to use your own judgment than depend on the judgment of others.
If you really want to give a gift to someone and honestly do not know what they would like, then give them a homemade gift from your kitchen, an ornament for their tree or some other small gift along with a gift certificate. That way you are showing them that you not only care enough about them to make sure that they get something they want, but that you care enough to give them something that took some time to choose or make as well.
Don’t overspend. A small, inexpensive-but-thoughtful gift will mean more than purchasing an expensive gift that makes the recipient uncomfortable. Many people feel awkward receiving expensive gifts from people that they are not intimate with. If you are unsure if an expensive gift will cause discomfort, then it is best to stick to something less expensive but thoughtful.
The whole idea behind giving a gift is to delight the recipient. Always take their feelings into consideration when giving a gift.
Gift-giving is an art, but it one anyone can master if they are motivated to do so.
