Joyless Gift Receivers

I have to say the one part of the Christmas season I hate is shopping for my youngest sister. She is incredibly picky and particular. She has an opinion on everything on how it should be. Buying a present for her is quite the chore and there is rarely any reward in it.

That is not to say that those with high standards are impossible to please. It's the ones who think only their ideas are the good ideas. I have pained and planned and have bought a high quality gift in something she is interested in and in the end she picks it apart and ultimately returns it simply because it wasn't her idea.

The best plan is to stick to the list she gives you. But the two problems with that - for one the items she asks for are usually out of the agreed upon price range, and second there is no surprise when the gift is opened. So there is no unexpected joy or elation. And it's so bad that even when you get something she asked for, she'll complain that it's not the brand/type/color she would have picked out.

Let's face it gift exchanges are as much about the givers as the receivers. It feels really good to see someone's reaction when you get them something they love. It also feels lousy when you put a lot of thought and effort to get someone a gift you thought they would love and you either get a neutral reaction or worse a negative reaction.

So if you are noticing that you are receiving less gifts than you used to, or if all you get are gift cards, then you just might be one of those picky joyless gift receivers. Merry Christmas - here's to you only getting what you want and crapping on those who care enough to buy you a thoughtful gift.