Gifts with strings attached

• It’s so easy to get drawn to everything new and shiny, but that can sometimes lead us to serious trouble. Most gifts are given out of love, but not all.

• Often when you receive a gift, there are obligations to give something back in return.  And, if you don’t, there feels like a power imbalance where one is trying to control the other, or the gifter wants the recipient to be like them.

• We are all a part of a huge gift-giving culture. We give and receive gifts on birthdays, Valentine’s Day, weddings, and many other occasions. However, free gifts are not entirely free, and they, too, have their own hidden cost.  We often receive unnecessary gifts, wasting our time and cluttering our houses.

• Avoid expensive gifts that only clutter your life.  Occasionally turning down a costly gift is essential, as they always flow back as quickly as they initially came.

• It is OK to decline a gift, but you don’t have to be rude or ungrateful about it. If you don’t need a gift, set expectations beforehand by saying that.  Go ahead and donate, re-gift it, but make it known you don’t need it. You don’t have to be a part of the gift-giving culture.  Be a minimalist. Save your space, time, and your mind from clutter. Save others money. Save our planet.

But that’s just my take. Comment and share yours.

If this topic interests you and you’re curious to learn more – check out this book through this Amazon affiliate link that I thoroughly enjoyed – The Art of Seduction