Dec. 5 – What NOT to give!

Don’t give a gift that you think the person needs for their health, unless you are certain they want it, or unless you purposely want to end the relationship…wait that’s just mean.  Don’t do that!  So, DON’T give exercise equipment (like one of those big bouncy ball chair things) – invite them to the gym with you instead.  DON’T give a kitchen appliance, (like a waffle maker).  This just says to me, “I want waffles, and I want YOU to make them for me.”  DON’T give anything they can clean with (like a vacuum) – Duh!  DON’T give CASH!  Nothing says “I couldn’t think of anything to get you and I didn’t want to (or have time to) put some effort into the thought.”  Also, giving cash makes the recipient feel like shit…like they are some sort of charity case.  Instead, think of something they might need - like groceries and buy them a gift card to a fancy grocery store.  And finally, DON’T give an ugly Christmas sweater, unless you give one to everybody & they have a purpose…like a good photo-op.  Okay, I’ll stop.  You get the drift.