I had a package waiting on my doorstap today from a place called "art of appreciation". I opened it and found your standard "gift for a client" type gift tower. It was shaped like a snowman. It was one of those box towers that has some stale food item in each box. I looked at the card expecting to see a clients name on it, and found that it was from my sister in law.
I was saddened by the lack of thought that went into the gift. To me the gift is all about the thought, and clearly she put none into it. I actually would have rather recieved nothing. The trans fat laden "goodies" will end up next to the coffee machine at work.
Yeah it's still a gift, but I have the feeling it was one given out of guilt or something. I looked at the invoice and noted that the gift was ordered the day that she rcvd my package from fed ex.
I don't want people to feel pressured to give me a gift. I give gifts because I care about the people I'm giving them to.

When I thought about what to get her for christmas I remembered that she took pictures of the eggplant she grew last summer, so I decided to get her some heirloom seeds for her garden. I went online and found the seed company that martha stewart uses and bought from them. I browsed for a good while making sure that I was buying something that would grow in her zone in Oregon. I also got her some nice nursery grade plant stakes/markers and a cool gardening book. It wasn't a very extravagant gift by any means, but it was something I thought she could use. I even put a note inside explaining the thought behind the gift, because I thought she might find it silly that I sent her seeds.
To me receiving that mass produced bought in a moment of "oh sheat I guess I need to send her a gift now too" panic mean't I'm really not worth her time or effort. I guess it hurt my feelings to know that I'm not worth her time.

And for the record- Yes I appreciate gifts- when people put thought into them. But like others have said, if you can't think of something meaningful to give then maybe you shouldn't give at all. We all have enough useless clutter!
To me the best gifts are handmade, and if not handmade then anything that I know someone truely put thought into. My friends mom once knitted me this silly pink beanie to wear while I run. It even has ear flaps. Some would call it hideous, but I love it because I know when she was knitting it she had me in mind. Thats what counts. I have tons of those silly gifts that I cherish because there is love behind them.
sigh...
Anyway, I hope you all get meaningful gifts this holiday season! Stay safe out there!!
Merry Merry and HO HO HO!
Denise

and to those who think I'm ungrateful, I don't even want to hear it.... If you only knew me.