Some people are easy to shop for. Take my brother for example; he is an educator, he loves the Dodgers, Star Wars, 80s kitsch films, he is a home brewer and he enjoys cooking. For the Holidays I bought him a set of Star Wars themed spatulas, a Dodgers pint glass, some books and a Flash Gordon t-shirt identical to the one worn by Sam Jones in the popular movie. Then there was my boss. The only thing I knew about his personal life was that he liked specialty beers, the Dodgers and he drank lots of coffee. I wound up getting him a nicely designed coffee mug with his initial on monogrammed on the front. When it comes to gift ideas there are some things one ought to consider: firstly, it doesn’t matter how well you know the person, and secondly, the reason for the gift (birthday, get-well, anniversary, etc) can play a major role in deciding that special item. But good news! We have the Internet so there is no need to drive from store to store, or fight your way through mall traffic. Simply find an online retailer that offers anything and everything you could possible want.
The opaque ones
For many, these people can be rather difficult to shop for. I am referring to people we know, but who we have very little social interaction with. These people could include work colleagues, our doctor, teacher, personal trainer or minister. In other words, people who we know and see regularly enough, but who we don’t share our intimate lives with.
If you want to give someone a gift who falls into this category, you must at least know something about them that can provide a platform for your gift-giving efforts. However, if you don’t, there is no need to panic. Let’s say you want to give your family doctor a gift for the Holidays, and you know absolutely nothing about him except for the fact he is married and has children. You have many options here. If you want to be traditional in your gift giving, consider a fancy pen or a bottle of wine. However, if you really want to stand out as being that patient who got ultra creative, find an online store that sells antiques, and get him an antique medical item. The 19th century boomed with little portable quack medical inventions that were said to correct posture, cure depression, and promote better skin and a barrage of other ailments. Such a gift would cause a laugh, and stand out as being a well-thought gift appropriate to his field.
If the person you are shopping for is in the hospital, get them something they can use in bed such as a book or a portable gaming device. If the person in the hospital is the father of your son’s best friend, and you know he likes the Detroit Red Wings, get him a Red Wings blanket that he can use in the hospital and then take home. Make sure the gift is appropriate for the occasion.
To shop or not to shop
Often, families will agree not to exchange gifts for the Holidays or for birthdays because the economic pressures are too great to save money. In an article published by The New York Times the author presents a case that warns against this. According to the article, psychologists say that banning the gift exchange with loved ones is not the best solution. People who refuse to accept or exchange gifts during the holidays, these experts say, may be missing out on an important connection with family and friends. You can get someone a special, meaningful gift for under $10 if you shop online. Get your artsy sister-in-law those Bohemian earrings for $7.99 and get your estranged black-sheep uncle who likes the Cincinnati Bengals a shot glass for $9.99 that boasts the team’s logo. Making small purchases like this will make others feel loved and thought of, you will feel good, and you won’t break the bank.
Our culture continues
Gift giving has existed as a principal of our society for centuries. In ancient cultures, tribal leaders would give each other gifts to secure peace, food and protection. In ancient Rome, people would exchange gifts during Winter Solstice that consisted of evergreen branches and cakes—symbols of prosperity and sweetness. As mankind has evolved, gift giving has become focused around holidays, but it nonetheless continues as a strong tradition to show love, respect, and thanks to those in our life both very close and near.
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