A New Beginning

One stressed filled day at work, I had had it with Christmas gift giving.  It had been decided that we would have a Secret Santa gift exchange. We couldn’t spend more than $ 20.

All this is fine and dandy but I’m a joiner and a pretty social person and all my clubs, organizations and groups were all doing the same thing.

My Secret Santa gift was bubble bath.  Just what I don’t need.  Bah humbug!  I shower, not take baths.   But I couldn’t complain; that the exact gift I gave, too.   

Isn’t it silly?

I give you some junk under $ 20 and you give me junk under $ 20.  Not that I’m proposing to spend more.  I don’t want to spend anything; I don’t want a gift exchange at all.  Every year I have too many little under $ 20 gifts:

Two books clubs Yankee swaps under $ 20
work gift exchange under $ 20
my work cubby-mate, whatever I can spend
walking group gift exchange, around $ 10
hairdresser, around $ 20
women’s club ornament swap $ 15-20
Bible study gift, under $ 20
paperboy, $ 10
monthly dinner group, under $ 20

I was exasperated and let my harangue spill out on my poor friend who happened to have the misfortune to be listening to my tirade. 

Then something happened that is scorched into my memory.  My friend stood up nice and straight with a pained look on her face, as she opened her bag and took out a Christmas gift, and threw it at me.  “Well here’s one more piece of junk for you.”

I-I-I-I-I didn’t know what to say.  I remembered feeling my neck get red.  I don’t remember if we talked.  I don’t remember if she was angry.  I don’t remember how she left.  I don’t remember anything.  (I probably repressed the memory.)

But I learned a lesson.  At first, I was embarrassed, that was a given—more than embarrassed—I was humiliated.  My soul had been bared before me; I learned that I was selfish, overbearing, thoughtless and a..a.a..monster.  Bah Humbug!  I was worse than a Grinch.

This Christmas season was a period of soul searching self-reflection.  I contemplated the purpose of giving gifts. 

Gift giving should express love—even gifts under $ 20.  Gifts of love have thought put into what and why you buy them.  You tailor the gift for the receiver. 

Why would I buy bubble bath when I didn’t know whether or not the receiver took baths?  I wasn’t thinking of others at all.  I just wanted to be rid of the obligation and purchased whatever was on sale and I had a coupon for. 

My New Year’s resolution is to be more aware of others.  I will think of the needs, wants, and likes of others, especially when it comes to gift giving.