Christmas gift giving Do you love the holiday season or do you dread it? No matter how we feel there is simply no option but to make the best of this time of year. We are each responsible for making celebratory choices that minimize stress but still nurture the magic of the season. After all this is truly a special time of year regardless of our religious or spiritual beliefs. Here are two survival tips to follow as we experience the holiday bustle: keep the season simple and give freely (not what you think). (click on Read More)
Keep it simple by communicating expectations with friends and family. Discuss gift giving plans. Agree to give or not to give gifts. Set amounts to be spent. Come to a consensus about who, what and where festivities will take place. Hurt feelings and misunderstandings are avoided by establishing these ground rules in advance.
Keep it simple by honoring someone’s wish not to receive “things.” Be creative with restaurant gift certificates, personalized IOUs, food items, or electronic gifts that do not take up space. Consider giving an experience (maybe a shared experience) rather than a thing. Select a token gift – something that represents the spirit of giving but not the materialism of the season.
Give freely, that is, give gifts with no expectations attached. Gift giving permits us to show our appreciation for the recipient but does not give us permission to control the future of the gift. Clearly express to the recipient that they are free to enjoy the gift in any way they see fit: keep, use, cherish, re-gift or let go in the future. It may be difficult but give the gift and let it go.
From an organizer’s standpoint this concept is very important. By giving freely, the giver releases the recipient from an implied obligation that the gift must be kept forever. It effectively frees the recipient from future guilt - positive for everyone’s mental and emotional health. (Yes, this philosophy reduces future clutter, too.) So to all gift givers – give freely!
I hope everyone’s holiday season is simple and blessed.
Keep it simple by honoring someone’s wish not to receive “things.” Be creative with restaurant gift certificates, personalized IOUs, food items, or electronic gifts that do not take up space. Consider giving an experience (maybe a shared experience) rather than a thing. Select a token gift – something that represents the spirit of giving but not the materialism of the season.
Give freely, that is, give gifts with no expectations attached. Gift giving permits us to show our appreciation for the recipient but does not give us permission to control the future of the gift. Clearly express to the recipient that they are free to enjoy the gift in any way they see fit: keep, use, cherish, re-gift or let go in the future. It may be difficult but give the gift and let it go.
From an organizer’s standpoint this concept is very important. By giving freely, the giver releases the recipient from an implied obligation that the gift must be kept forever. It effectively frees the recipient from future guilt - positive for everyone’s mental and emotional health. (Yes, this philosophy reduces future clutter, too.) So to all gift givers – give freely!
I hope everyone’s holiday season is simple and blessed.
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