SEC-S17/W4| A Gift that can impress me - Words

Gifts, do they come from a good heart, are they selfish, are they given out of guilt, to buy a favour or to get rid of something no longer liked or considered trash? There are as many gifts and reasons to give a present as there are people.

If I remember well it isn't the first time during the past three months we talk about gifts. We had the Winter season, Spring Festival, Valentine's Day, Eid, Mother's Day, Children's Day, First May, holidays with souvenirs, birthday presents, gifts for those being ill, wedding presents it feels as if the entire economy thrives on gifts but also as if it's never good enough. The more gifts the more unsatisfied faces (those long ones). It makes me uncomfortable to look and buy something if I feel (know) the one it's meant for hoped for something else, more expensive, bigger, a pile of presents or each one of them mentioned on the wishlist.

My experiences as a child were not too good. My birthday was a drama just like December 5th and Christmas at home. The school made a bit up for that. The best gift was a book! Each Christmas was good for one book and at each end of a school (primary, high school and so on) was good for an extra book: the Bible. Later the Bible was in different languages.

My parents had long wishlists with expensive items which I as a child could not afford not even if I saved all my pocket money for one year. This was always good for more drama. I remember how I gifted my mother with each item on her wishlist. For my grandmother I bought flowers and I gave her a drawing. Both received breakfast in bed including juice, eggs and some flowers I picked in the garden. It made my mother angry she did not receive a bunch of flowers and a drawing. She threw all the expensive gifts (Royal Albert porcelain cups and so on) through the room at my head. It shattered against the wall. Most likely my grandmother gave her her flowers.

Children these days are not easy to please. I am glad mine are. They know I can't and won't give everything plus only give what I like or... find useful. Besides there's nothing wrong with working for wishes.
One daughter is a great gamer and animator so a game isn't a waste of money, a book would be for her.
The others are more into reading so books are always great and it doesn't matter if these books are for free found on the street in the garbage or bought at a secondhand shop for 50 cents. All I need to do is figure out if they already have the book.

My best present isn't per se a book, it can be a written wish, message, a film, food, incense or money. These are most likely the presents I will give too. I no longer do my stinking best to give the "best" gift in the world and will never spend more than my budget. I no longer feel uncomfortable if I give something. Those I reward I know well, their likes and dislikes included but if there's a small chance they might not like it I say: you can tell me if you don't like it, if so I keep it myself.

I will never give alcohol, tobacco, soap, aftershave, make-up, shampoo or perfume.

Today I have plenty of books, I gave away most of mine to the eldest years ago. I do not really need more (I am just back from the second-hand store and ..uhm.. Well, the youngest and I arrived home with 21 books 🤐).

Once getting older gifts are less interesting because we can save and buy what we need or like (or we like to think this is the fact). This is better than receiving unliked gifts and pretending to be happy with it and next sell it online or like in the old days give them to someone else (not smart if you cannot remember who gave it to you).

To me the best gift is the written word (one line can already be great) or something useful like the incense I like, marzipan (rare these days) or whatever I might need. A gift doesn't need to last forever and I don't like cluttering. To me it's more important those close to me know me, know what I like and a gift should show this is the case. Only such a present can impress me. It's not about money.
I love the funny texts only (birthday) cards my daughter gives as much as the bar of chocolate another child gives me or the homemade cake or better doing the dishes or not cooking for a change.

Not a gift but knowing someone for real enhances relationships just like respecting each other's wishes. I learned that expensive gifts or gestures only make vulnerable to manipulation and being abused. Giving a lot does not tie relationships, you will not make friends for life if you are always the first to fulfil other's wishes (more an idiot they laugh at and backstab).

I received gifts accompanied by hateful words which I still remember and most likely will never forget. A good reminder of how a present should not be presented.

My most precious gifts are what my children make for me. Stories, poems they wrote or art they made.
The painting of the ferrets...

_{painted around 2016}

and... this card my brother sent me years ago to cheer me up for the new year.

Contest hosted by @meraindia

@ibesso @kouba01 @eskarem @saintkelvin17

Header/Photogrid: Canva
Photos: taken by me
29-4-2024
I am a mobile phone user only

I upvote comments and (good) entertaining stories. @hive-169911 is my hive (community). I will grow its SP to upvote stories only. Please, do NOT post in it!
If you wrote something good you can tag me, original (no AI-written) stories/tales only. You do not need to join a club to be read and upvoted and you can post wherever you like. I suggest the freewriters or @hive-107855 the Dream Steem. Use the tag # story
Happy Writing @wakeupkitty

#steemexclusive #incredibleindia-s17w4 #club100 #kittywu #holland #freewrite