It's the Effort that counts

-
It isn't about the gift so much, nor how much it cost. It isn't even really the "thought that counts" either, since one can think about getting a gift, but never get around to doing it. It's about the effort put into it to please the person you intend it for. It isn't just effort put into finding or making the right gift, it is the effort put into having it on time, and the effort put into the presentation of said gift.

A birthday gift is no longer really a birthday gift if it is thrown into your lap two days after your birthday with no gift wrapping on it. A Christmas gift is no longer a Christmas gift if it is finally bought three months later. Presentation and timing are everything. What is inside the gift is less important. Obviously, a well-thought out gift is something picked out with a particular person in mind, knowing his/her tastes exactly. But sometimes you can't find the perfect gift. Or maybe you can't afford it. Or maybe you don't know the person well enough. Even when you do find the perfect gift, presentation and timing are still key.

Christmas and birthdays are traditionally days we offer gifts to people we care about. Especially the ones we care about most. If you listen to commercials, we'd all be giving expensives gifts everytime there is a holiday, but that is ridiculous. Most people give gifts on these two occasions. And most expect to receive some token of appreciation on these two days.

So, how does it feel when you hang up your Christmas stocking every year, and consistently, every year at Christmas it is empty, unless you have put something in there yourself to make it look less flat?

How does it feel to know ahead of time, every year, that there won't be a Christmas gift under the tree for you from the person you love? How does it feel to think that you don't merit even a little bit of effort?

Pretty darn crappy I would think.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sectes

-
Image
Il y a peut-être un an de cela, une amie m'a dit qu'elle avait entendu dire certains gens traiter Marie-Jeunesse de secte. Mon mari ne connait pas Marie-Jeunesse, mais il est convaincu qu'Opus Dei est un secte et le livre "Le code DaVinci" n'a fait, bien sur, qu'affirmer ses croyances. Pourquoi est-ce que quand un groupe suit le Vatican et ses enseignements et encourage les autres à le faire aussi, même des personnes à l'intérieur de l'Église le traitent de secte?! La suite logique à cela serait de dire que le Vatican lui-même est un secte! Alors ces gens-là pensent quoi? Qu'ils ont la vérité et que c'est le Vatican qui en a dévié? Qu'ils sont les vrais catholiques, alors que le Vatican n'a pas de bons sens? Il y a presque 15 ans j'ai fait partie de Marie-Jeunesse, avant que ce groupe ne devienne communauté religieuse. Laissez-moi vous dire que Marie-Jeunesse n'a rien d'un secte. Libre à vous d'y aller ou d'y par...
Read more

Crashing into Thin Air - Excerpt From Chapter Seven

-
She was deep into a website project on her laptop when Christian came home later.  She saved her work and closed the laptop. “So?”  She asked, as he sat across the table.  “How was it?” He eyed her.  “You enjoy talking about yourself?” He asked. Joanne nodded. “To a stranger?” Joanne shrugged, “Sometimes that’s easier.”  She said.  “Strangers don’t judge.  They don’t really care.  They aren’t personally involved.” “So you’ve done this before?  Talked to a psychiatrist about your problems?” “Uh, no.  Not really.” Christian shook his head.  “So how can you know you’d like it?  What do you think it’s like, having to go through unpleasant memories that you’d rather forget?  It’s not much fun!” “Sorry.” Joanne replied. “So if you enjoy talking about yourself so much, why don’t you tell me what you were going to tell me this morning?” “You’re not a stranger.” Joanne reminded him.  “That makes things ...
Read more

Problems in Bolivia

-
Now this is what I am talking about. This is what people are fleeing away from, this is why the US has so many illegal immigrants, this is why people have a love-hate relationship with the US, what is the US going to do about it? (From the SOA Watch :) We are writing with grave concern about an emerging conflict in South America´s poorest nation, Bolivia and we need you to take immediate action. Bolivia is facing a critical moment in which the survival of a new era of hope is gravely threatened. After suffering decades of military dictatorships followed by years of economic dictatorship, Bolivia heralded in a new moment of dignity with the election of its first indigenous president, Evo Morales. However, just one month after a recall referendum gave Morales 67% of the vote, Bolivia's secessionist movement has unleashed unprecedented violence throughout the country. After three days of riots, 8 people have died, several government institutions have been destroyed and Bolivia´s gas ...
Read more