Would You Rather Give or Receive a Gift?
When you give, you put yourself in alignment to receive
This year canceled holiday parties and other festive Christmas activities, but one thing that is still very much alive is the spirit of gift-giving and receiving. I was listening to the radio the other day, and they asked: Would you rather give a gift or receive a gift?
Many people called in sharing their stories of gift-giving and receiving.
Some said they’d rather give and don't really care whether they receive in return (very noble), others said they are too fabulous to not receive gifts even if they don’t give (Uhm, okay.)
Some thought being alive to see another year come to a close is a massive gift in and of itself looking at how millions of people didn’t make it to the end of this year. I agreed with those people.
But I had my own thoughts while listening to the thoughts of others. Why can’t one give a gift and hope to receive one in return?
A situation where one person does the giving every time without receiving and the other receives without ever giving is an unbalanced and unfair situation.
This year, as I picked out gifts for my daughter, it had me thinking of that discussion on the radio. I thought of how lovely it is to receive a gift — you know, real gifts and not just some boxed chocolate from CVS on the milk run, but a really thoughtful gift. When someone thinks of me deep enough to buy me something thoughtful or support my mission, that feeling is everything!
I didn’t grow up giving and receiving many gifts.
Things were very different back when I lived in Ghana. Gift-giving wasn't a huge thing except for the new dress I got every Christmas to wear to church (haha). Good old days.
Wrapping presents, kids waiting for Santa, and Christmas morning to open presents wasn’t a thing then. I knew of father Christmas in Ghana, but he wasn’t known for delivering presents to nice kids. He was just some dude who showed up during Christmas time bearing no gifts. He was fun though.
But here in the US, people are privilege enough to receive gifts on Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Valentine’s day, anniversaries, baby showers, weddings, etc. and when they don’t receive any gifts at all, they feel disappointed.
Even though I didn't receive many gifts growing up, I really loved giving and receiving them. I still remember the gift my first boyfriend gave me when I was 18 years old. It was a cute little teddy bear, and I cherished it forever.
I also remember the last gift I gave to my mother before I moved to the states. It was a jewelry box that played music when you opened it. This was back in 2009. I remember the look on her face when she opened it, and most importantly what I felt in my heart as I watched her open it and look up at me.
I love the look on my daughter’s face when she receives gifts from me. She always dances around, jumping up and down, letting me know how grateful and happy she is. It lights up my world!
That’s the power in giving and receiving gifts, even if it’s just from me to me.
As a single woman living alone in America with family back home, it’s hard to say whether I might receive a gift, so I just buy myself gifts. No, it isn’t sad, it’s an act of self-love.
I don’t have to sit around waiting and hoping someone remembers my name in their busy Christmas time to buy me a gift because receiving is a privilege. So this year I picked up something for myself as I picked out gifts for loved ones because this year has been tough on me too and I deserve my love and affection.
It’s the love for the self that matters the most.
I got myself some pretty journals and some essential oils because journaling helps me deal with my thoughts and feelings while essential oils make me feel lavish and divine.
The best thing about picking out presents for myself is that I don’t need to wrap them and I don’t need to wait to open them!
Gift-giving feels good. Receiving them feels even better.
When I make someone feel good, I feel good. And when I make myself feel good, I feel twice as good!
So my answer to the question is I’d rather give gifts and receive in return because when I give, I put myself in alignment to receive.
Happy holidays 🎄
In the spirit of gift-giving and receiving, your patronage is much appreciated.