This week’s MFRA 52 Week Blog Challenge top is Gift Getting – What I Always Wanted, but Not Very Much.
I appreciate that some people give gifts not because they expect something in return, but because they’re trying to be nice, but personally, I don’t care much for gifts. As a child I had no interest in shaking the gifts under the Christmas tree. I didn’t like the attention of birthday parties (my family learned quickly that it wasn’t something I enjoyed), and at graduation I had no celebration and neither wanted nor expected gifts or recognition. Unfortunately, I think my lack of interest in gifts isn’t understood by most people, and a few still insist on giving them. If I know someone enjoys getting gifts, I’m happy to give them, but for some reason others find it difficult to not give gifts or recognition to those who don’t enjoy it.
I guess that gift giving is a social ritual, and I’ve given up on trying to make those who don’t understand accept that I don’t appreciate formal gift giving or celebrations. I’ve learned to say thank you, it’s just what I wanted, and the truth is, it really doesn’t have to be much–nothing is preferred.
How do you feel about gifts? Do you like giving or receiving them or do you enjoy neither?
How do other writers in the MFRA 52-Week Blog Hop feel about gift? Please click here to find out.
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Hi, Kate. I’m with you on this. I enjoy celebrating a milestone (birthday, anniversary, book birthday) with a special meal or even a party, but I’d rather skip the gifts.
I don’t mind a meal with people close to me.
I find it difficult to react to getting unexpected gifts. A close friend gives me gifts for no reason, sometimes tiny, sometimes a bit bigger. It makes me feel like I have to return the gesture. There are times, as you said, we have to say thank you and move on.