The Neurotic Side of Giving.

We spent the batter part of yesterday and today wondering about downtown, staring at items lined up on shelves, peering into windows and wondering what would make the perfect gift. In the past I have always found it hard to find something that I know the person I am giving the gift to will like. The present does not have to be something extravagant or expensive, it just has to be something that I know they desire, something that is of significance to them. Once the item has been acquired I begin to agonize over it, wondering if they will truly enjoy it or if I have made some grand assumptions as to their likes or dislikes. All very silly I know but I fear offending people by getting them the wrong thing, I fear a sense of rejection if they do not like what I am offering them. Yes I know am neurotic when it comes to gift giving.

This year however, I have decided on a more personal course of action. I am no longer searching for what I feel would be the perfect gift for them, but am looking for something that may either inspire them to explore other creative avenues, something that will spark a curiosity, or something that has a touch of me to it. In short I am being mildly selfish and “forcing” my views of what makes a good gift on them. This however, does not mean that I’ll not agonize over the gifts, I will still worry whether of not they will like what I am giving them, but as in all things one has to proceed with baby steps. I think we will try working on that aspect of things next year.