The odd wee inexpensive gift is ok but I hate the unnecessary gifts which are more about the giver than the receiver. If I have specifically stated that I don't want a gift from someone and then they get me one anyway I feel that my opinion is invalid. It makes me a non-person, that they don't really care about me or my feelings, it's about them so they don't feel guilty giving me nothing. I feel like they haven't listened to me at all and cannot accept what I say at face value. If they have such a huge desire to give a gift then I wish they would give to someone who is more needy than me. I am lucky and neither want or need for anything so please stop buying me stuff to make you feel good about yourself. You're just on the treadmill of mass consumerism. IF you must buy a gift make it edible or drinkable and at least it'll get used. But the best gift would be to actually listen and absorb what is being said.
And giving the gift of an experience thinking it's an easy win is the worst of all. It's basically telling someone how they should spend their time. Time is the most precious gift of all and we are all pushed for time these days. I live in fear of a hot air balloon experience. I don't have enough time to do the things I love so why would you think I really want to get up at the crack of dawn to drive across the country to participate in this fabulous experience. And I've got vertigo!
I have received four gift experiences in the last three years and have been able to use none of them. The first one, a dark sky experience, would have meant finding a clear night, on a weekend, a three hour drive away to look at f***ing stars when I regularly do exactly that in my camper van.
The second, a boat trip I'd already done twice already and had no notion to participate a third time.
The third, a cinema and meal for two. Wahey I thought, at last something I can use. But no, not in my local cinema. The voucher could only be redeemed an hours drive away and at a crappy restaurant.
The fourth, a making something experience. No, just no!!!!
People need to be more aware of this, not just on a personal level but if they really care about the planet then we have to stop all this consumerist nonsense.
The odd wee inexpensive gift is ok but I hate the unnecessary gifts which are more about the giver than the receiver. If I have specifically stated that I don't want a gift from someone and then they get me one anyway I feel that my opinion is invalid. It makes me a non-person, that they don't really care about me or my feelings, it's about them so they don't feel guilty giving me nothing. I feel like they haven't listened to me at all and cannot accept what I say at face value. If they have such a huge desire to give a gift then I wish they would give to someone who is more needy than me. I am lucky and neither want or need for anything so please stop buying me stuff to make you feel good about yourself. You're just on the treadmill of mass consumerism. IF you must buy a gift make it edible or drinkable and at least it'll get used. But the best gift would be to actually listen and absorb what is being said.
And giving the gift of an experience thinking it's an easy win is the worst of all. It's basically telling someone how they should spend their time. Time is the most precious gift of all and we are all pushed for time these days. I live in fear of a hot air balloon experience. I don't have enough time to do the things I love so why would you think I really want to get up at the crack of dawn to drive across the country to participate in this fabulous experience. And I've got vertigo!
I have received four gift experiences in the last three years and have been able to use none of them. The first one, a dark sky experience, would have meant finding a clear night, on a weekend, a three hour drive away to look at f***ing stars when I regularly do exactly that in my camper van.
The second, a boat trip I'd already done twice already and had no notion to participate a third time.
The third, a cinema and meal for two. Wahey I thought, at last something I can use. But no, not in my local cinema. The voucher could only be redeemed an hours drive away and at a crappy restaurant.
The fourth, a making something experience. No, just no!!!!
People need to be more aware of this, not just on a personal level but if they really care about the planet then we have to stop all this consumerist nonsense.