Many years ago I read an article about how the late Princess of Wales was raising her young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to be as much like “normal” (i.e., non-royal) children as possible. One of the most poignant things she taught them was the importance of good manners—especially, saying thank you. Apparently, she once told them something along the lines of: “If you ask for a Coke® and someone gives you orange juice, say ‘thank you’ and drink the orange juice.”
A
few days before Christmas I tuned in to an animated debate during Bill
Carroll’s KFI
broadcast. The question being discussed was: “Is it ever okay to give someone a
monetary
gift card for Christmas?” Many callers said that giving cash or a gift card
to a close relative, loved one or friend was the height of tackiness or even
thoughtlessness. Some people believed such a gift was a sign of epic laziness: What? You couldn’t even spend a couple of
minutes to think about what I would like and go get it for me? Other people
seemed to be ambivalent: Money is cool,
but if nothing else I can always re-gift the card to the gardener if I don’t
like it, etc. A final group had no problem giving (or receiving) gift cards
as a present.
O-kay. Can I take the high road by taking
the middle of the road in this debate? Great!
As
someone who both gave and received gift cards at the holidays, I see no problem
with or question about the thoughtfulness
of these kinds of presents. While it may not be financially feasible to
purchase that new iPad for your nephew, it’s
usually possible to make some kind of monetary contribution to the gift in the
form of a gift card. If that special someone specifically hints that the most
appreciated gift would be money to help pay down a credit-card debt or pay this
month’s phone bill, how is obliging this request a sign of insensitivity? Every
little bit adds up, right? And, at the end of the day it is the thought that
counts. The true, original, spiritual meanings of Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza,
etc., and exchanging presents on birthdays or anniversaries, were never to
celebrate consumerism. Ultimately, when gifts are exchanged isn’t it to express
loving sentiments toward and appreciation for someone you care about?
No
matter who you are, no matter what you are doing, saying “thank you” to express
gratitude that someone thought of you is still a very cool thing to do. It
really is the thought and not the gift that counts.
What
are you grateful for?
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in
Southern California. She graduated with honors from the
Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about
Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2014
