Final thoughts on Gifts

Hopefully, if nothing else, this blog has been some small source of amusement for you (whoever you are reading this page). Maybe I've unknowingly shaken you by the shoulders with my harsh words that told you that the gift you selected was simply bad. And maybe I've made you roll your eyes at my posts, disbelieving their truth (you best start believin' cuz they're true!)

But I really hope that I've made you reconsider items that you give as gifts because the silent message that is sent hand-in-hand with your gift is just as important because it is a reflection of you and your feelings about the person you're giving the gift to. I refuse to tell you what to get because that is all up to you. Just remember to put yourself in the receiver's shoes and think about whether you would want that *cough* whatever you're holding in your hands contemplating buying.

There are some items that should just never be given as gifts (OK, maybe unless it is a joke). But this is not a joke: in all seriousness 95% of people do not want these gifts! Yeah, I just made that up but I'm sure it's pretty close.

So take this newfound knowledge, fellow gift-givers, on what not to give as a gift and put it to good use!

The Queen of the Re-Gift

A couple months ago I had a scheduled dentist visit. My usual hygienist is very touchy-feely and loves talking about things going on in her life. Since it was shortly after Christmas, she had a story for me about some gifts she and her family received from her wealthy, elderly aunt.

She had received [another] long nightgown. Not only was it cheap material but it was clearly "old lady print" (you know what I'm talking about... little flower buds, pale colors). Something she clearly did not like and so, gave away.

While this wasn't so much of a strange re-gifting, my hygienist's pre-teen son got something much more interesting.

He received a package of Icy Hot packs. OK, this is a pretty strange gift for a young kid, is it not? Unless he is an athlete who had an injury (which he was not). But it wasn't just a regular package. It was an opened package and one of the thermal care wraps was missing.



If you're going to re-gift something that you don't like, make an attempt to put some thought into what it is you are re-gifting and who you are giving it to. Don't you want it to at least seem like you're being thoughtful and genuine?

The Ugly Sweater

Despite the "Ugly Sweater" parties that have recently become a hit at colleges, let's not kid ourselves and say we enjoyed getting these sweaters when we were younger. An ugly sweater is just ugly in ever way, there's no getting around it. It might be the hideous arrangement and mixture of colors, or the chaotic designs that fill every inch of the scratchy fabric. It might be the shape of it... lumpy or awkward. Or, it might just be the tacky holiday pictures and fabric cut-outs that catch your attention immediately from 50 feet away.



Maybe these are cute when you're giving it to a 1-year-old but seriously, think about your own primitive years and please, please talk yourself out buying it for anyone. Even though exists, this does not mean you should be buying them.