October 17, 2006

Gifted at gifting


I have found it amazing how some people are exceptionally good at picking out gifts. I try my best.

The pre requisites- give or take a few :
Money- Not always a deterrent, some of the best gifts I have received would have cost nothing
Taste- Not yours. You must try to appreciate the recipient's tastes.
Time- That is tough, particularly if you work in the back of beyond and are dependent on hubby for transport
Thought- You need to apply your mind. Imagine if you gift a hair style gel to a bald man or a cat to a rat lover.
Heart- you should want to make it special- respect the person and the occasion enough to make an effort

Here are some gift types which I dread:
Merry go round- This is the gift which is not wanted. Poor thing, it keeps changing hands. Possibly ends up with the first giftor. The wrapper alone keeps changing.
Oops, Guilty again!- This is the recycled gift that is a give away. Somewhere lurking inside is the evidence that the current giver was a receiver not too long ago.
Ouch! By Force- Aka the collection envelope in office for the multiple farewells and weddings of people you hardly know. In our office it is not seen well if you do not contribute. you actually have the "gift police" monitoring that.
Embarrassment of riches- Too much of a good thing. So expensive that you need to plan and save so that you can return the favour when it is your turn

Miscellaneous
On Gift wrap- Conserve paper- reuse gift wrap. Nothing wrong with that I hope.
Bows and Strings- Have you seen these really cool satin strips that you just pull out and viola they turn into lovely bows.
Cards- In this time of email they seem obsolete But I am m sure some of you will agree that they have their own charm.

*************Googled on gifts and found this*************

It is said that on an occasion when the Buddha was teaching a group of people, he found himself on the receiving end of a fierce outburst of abuse from a bystander, who was for some reason very angry.
The Buddha listened patiently while the stranger vented his rage, and then the Buddha said to the group and to the stranger, "If someone gives a gift to another person, who then chooses to decline it, tell me, who would then own the gift? The giver or the person who refuses to accept the gift?"
"The giver," said the group after a little thought. "Any fool can see that," added the angry stranger.
"Then it follows, does it not," said the Buddha, "Whenever a person tries to abuse us, or to unload their anger on us, we can each choose to decline or to accept the abuse; whether to make it ours or not. By our personal response to the abuse from another, we can choose who owns and keeps the bad feelings."


10 comments:

Itchingtowrite said...

another dreaded ones are the obvious ones which u hav too many anyway- like tiffin boxes, clocks, glass/ cups.
forced farewell gifts- another form of by force!!- sometimes new comers are requested to chip in for farewell gifts for those whom they wudn't hav known at all

I will always vote for cash or gift voucher max... from a shop that i like.

Anonymous said...

I like the bit you found on google...

btw, do list gifts that your daughter has recd that you really love - will give me some ideas on what to get for kids other than books. :)

Has to be me said...

Firstly thats a lovely pic there! Gifts...yes most ppl love to receive them! And yes sometimes u r forced to give them too! Its fun shopping for gifts for the loved ones any time!

B o o said...

Cute photo! Kicking myself for not taking one like that!! ;)
Some people have the gift in them to give nice gifts, I guess! I have been amazed by so many people. I always give safe gifts.
even if they dont bless me for it, at least I am sure they wont curse me for it!! :)

apu said...

I have to say - I heard that Buddha story when I was a very young girl, and its always stayed with me. It is one of the best ways to get yourself under control, when you feel that someone has been mean/unfair to you - say, thanks, but no thanks!

On gifting - I too re-use gift wrappers, I feel it is a waste of beautiful paper to just tear or throw it way, regardless of what may be considered etiquette on this!

Artnavy said...

Appu/ Vi- tnx - will read both

Apu- thanks for eing with me on the gift wrap

Boo- / Has2bme- took the pic the morn after Anush's 1st bday- she was more enchanted by the gift wraps than the gifts-

@-
She got so many "Chinese plastic " pull alongs/ balls/ trains- i give them one at a time so that she can destroy them one by one ( her idea not mine)

she go a set of stacking rings, some books and CDs/ DVDs of nursery rhymes/ karadi tales which i adore and she also likes

Also a very useful baby bag
And the cash gifts went in to her kitty

I must admit I recycled all the 3 Barbies- i do not want Anush playing with them as long as i can manage- sorry if i offended anyone

Usha said...

I am always at a loss to pick up gifts for kids - these days they seem to be suffering from too much of gifts and whatever you take, the child already has it or loses interest in about 5 mins.
Other than cash, is there any gift for a kid that is always welcome?

Artnavy said...

Usha- I think music cd/ casette- have u heard karadi tales- it can be given across age groups

comes in english/ hindi and tamil

By Deepa and Supriya said...

Also, it is so hard when you have only known someone for a week or two and you end up getting invited to a party where you have to take a gift. This one to me is the hardest. You don't know them well enough to know what would be appropriate but at the same time you want to reciprocate their invitation and attempt at continued friendship with something appropriate. Tough!!

Varsha said...

Liked the classification of gifts!! Funny

Agree...gift wrapper recycling is good...eco friendly!

Nice bit you googled