Now who doesn't love gifts? Whatever your age may be, please don't say that you don't like gifts! In the heart of the hearts you just love them. It is always a surprise when you own something you least expected but what if that some thing is actually something you least expected and never wanted 😜.
When a new baby is born, we all want to gift something. A new parent definitely deserves some surprises...what all with that puke and poop cleaning, breast feeding and eternal tiredness, the parent would love to receive something nice, but when you have no great ideas to gift or if you are quite broke (which mostly is not the case) to gift anything...it is just ok if you give nothing rather than giving a used/torn/unwanted thingy wrapped as a gift! I used to have a neighbor who gifted torn teddy bears to Zaara on her first bday :) It was quite evident that they were used and past expiry date! I cannot fathom the reason behind this act. She neither loves nor hates me but ghastly looking teddy bears to a baby! Gosh! I can never do such a thing coz poor babies won't know a thing. They will play with and eat up whatever you give to them. OK . STRIKE OFF THE SECOND PART in case of my baby. ;)
So the next day to Zaara's birthday, I placed the teddy bears along with my daily trash bag. I mean that's the least I could do to show my displeasure! I really hoped they saw it!
They say its not the gift but the thought that counts - but do all people really think when they gift? Yes it is the thought that counts, but what exactly may be the gift giver thinking when he sends a family a stale sweet box or oversized t shirts, a broken decorative item, quite an old box of chocolates, and many other old worn out gifts? Are they avenging for some unknown reason? or do they wanna test and see if family is safe after consuming their sent food, so that they can consume the other box!?😋
To me the only thought that goes in the gift giving is cleaning and clearing their own homes.
The unwanted gifts keep revolving around houses just like in the below ad😏
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Sabse bada sar dard hai yeh. Since a last few years I have been giving cash, taki there are no complains like He/she already has it, he doesn't like it or it doesn't fit. Lo cash and buy whatever you think best.
ReplyDeleteI used to love giving and receiving gifts. But, as you have pointed out, I hate unwanted gifts. I am scared of celebrating my kids birthdays cause everyone feels obliged to gift something and then you have too much! These days, I put a note out saying no gifts!
ReplyDeleteI have made mix-tapes for many special people in my life. But, omg, realised we haven't had the tape recorded in many years.
Visiting from atoz:http://namysaysso.com/blog/guilt-napowrimo/
Gifts, now that's my love language.
ReplyDeleteSometimes gifts become more of a formality as everyone else is doing it... thats when its not from the heart i suppose... in such scenarios we should restrict to cash
ReplyDeleteGifts are fun. Even if unwanted they make one feel loved and can always be regifted. Unless of course the gift is like those teddy bears.
ReplyDelete"A gift for someone you love." That was the catchline of Amul chocolate once. I was young and quite handsome too. (In youth all men are handsome and all girls are beautiful.) I presented a bar of Amul to a lady telling her the catchline. She happened to be a Catholic nun. Well, I leave the rest to your imagination. :)
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeletePeople who don't understand the arts and science of gifting are the ones who give thoughtless gifts.
A great and interesting read...
Gifts are awesome. In recent years we and our friends have decided that guessing is not for us and we all set up wishlists. An email goes round before Christmas to remind everyone to update theirs. Some of us still make things too - many of my friends are very talented crochet-ers.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings: YouTube - What They Don't Tell You (and free fiction)
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteFor me, gifts are spontaneous and unattached to anything. Like the jar of Vegemite my friend knew I loved and that I cannot get easily where I live. She just handed it to me on her visit. Thoughful, caring and unceremonious! YAM xx
G=Guru!
We share the same thoughts, sometimes I think maybe we are soul sisters as when I read your posts I feel like they came from my heart! I love the concept of gifting... The joy when one gets a gift is so beautiful. I agree, a handmade card is way better than something given without any thought and just for the sake of it.
ReplyDeleteSee you around the A-Z challenge!
Hope you stop by my blog https://momandideas.com/
As I've gotten older I have so much less space.. because I have so much more stuff. What I need is for someone to gift me a proffesional organizer :)
ReplyDeleteI agree Afshan. The thought and gesture behind a gift really matter. Many people recycle gifts. That's why I think these days for weddings, they specifically say, no gifts please.
ReplyDeleteI cannot fathom the tattered teddy bears being thought a reasonable gift.
ReplyDeleteI have given (and received) "old" things but it is always after a conversation -- this is how jewelry gets passed down through generations and is the reason why I have copies of books that were printed in the 1800s. But ratty old teddy bears? NO.
I think overall our gifting culture is rather warped. People often feel obligated to give gifts, and there are endless meaningless, worthless bits manufactured and made available. How much more delightful if we all gifted consciously with a true sense of joy, not obligation. I love surprise gifts that say "I see who you are" and I know this will delight you. How does it get better than that?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely - a gift without thought is meaningless - and as for rich people who send personal shoppers to buy gifts for others - words fail me...
ReplyDeletehttps://how-would-you-know.com/2022/04/ginger-and-grow-your-own.html
I think, as you wrote, if you don't know what to give, cash gift is the best gift.
ReplyDeleteA thoughtlessly given gift is no good. You've rightly pointed out that it simply means someone is trying to clear their home. I'd rather not gift anything than something that makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteThink I am in agreement gift from the heart or pass. If it had little meaning to the giver what does the recipient receive. I love your honesty with this post.
ReplyDeleteGrave This blog I am moderating for my friend Steve Slack.
You bring up points for an interesting discussion. I agree that the worn teddy bear was a tacky gift, but maybe the giver thought about how much her kids loved the bear and hoped the same for you daughter. You never know what someone else is thinking. If a person doesn't know what to give or doesn't have the funds, a heartfelt card is a good substitute. And personally, I think the expectations of expensive gifts has gotten out of hand these days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning my blog. I give a lot of cash gifts or gift cards these days so the recipients can pick what they want to get. I think the best gift I would want is the gift of time in spending time with people I love. For me, I rather have that than a gift I have to unwrap and may not like. I think the best gift for new parents is a meal brought for them. :)
ReplyDeleteBetty
A gift should be always random and spontaneous. For the rest of the occasions best hand over cash in an envelope.
ReplyDeleteWith those teddy bears, it sounds like someone was basically just saying, "Here, you throw this out for me." It's more like they're asking you for a favor than giving you a gift.
ReplyDeleteOh my... can't imagine giving a torn and tattered teddy bear to a baby! Yes, let's please be thoughtful with our gift giving!!
ReplyDeleteHeartfelt gifts are always noticed even if they are small and not showy.
ReplyDeleteWoW! Like the thoughts here. Lately I have settled to envelop and cash. Seems like a good option to me. I have enjoyed reading this post.
ReplyDeleteI can’t imagine giving someone a gift that’s broken or past it’s use by. I find it harder to give presents these days - I think my imagination has run out and we all have enough anyway. If I see something that is “just right” for a friend I’ll gift it then rather than wait for an event.
ReplyDeleteI love to give gift, there is something magic on choosing the right gift for that specific person. It's sad when somebody doesn't appreciate the opportunity to show to somebody else how special and loved they are
ReplyDeleteI enjoy picking out just the perfect gift for someone... and often I'm creating that gift, so lots of love goes in. Nice post
ReplyDeleteI stress so over giving gifts to people! I don't think I'm good at finding the right gift when I have an immediate need. I do try to find items I think people on my Christmas list will like throughout the year. The problem is I set them back to save for the holiday, then I forget I did it! I run across things I bought and put aside for a gift for someone later, and it's like a little Christmas gift to myself just for finding it! :D
ReplyDeleteAt my own wedding, someone gifted me a handbag. In the inner pocket, there was a name card with someone else's name of it. Guess it was one of those gifts which was being passed along from one to another.
ReplyDeleteI used to put a lot of thought, time and effort into gifting previously. Nowadays, I just prefer to do gift cards or vouchers so people can buy whatever they prefer to buy. No chaos around sizes or colours or style mismatches. I prefer the same for myself too, unless it's someone who knows me really well or probably even what I am yearning for that time. For those who don't know me, I take gifts in pani puri also :P, they are the best kinds!
Here's my post for G:
G: Growing Up Bin Laden
Agree. Gifting is an art. I remember a funny incident. One of my friends wrote "Only Wishes No Gifts Accepted" or something like that on wedding card. All of us followed it diligently. Later we heard it he was disappointed as all of us attended bare hands. Looks like the wedding card maker did a serious copy paste error ;-) In my parents' generation I saw Tit-for-Tat policy she gave this then we should give that not a penny more not a penny less :)
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