Fact: I usually do not make Christmas lists. I may hint at one or two big items that I want, but other than that I leave it up to my parents, friends, and family to figure out what to get me. Not knowing what I will open on Christmas morning makes the build up to Christmas morning so much more enjoyable, but I also love this idea for another reason.
I also really, really love spending time scouring the internet, mall, or Pinterest (for DIY gifts) to come up with the perfect gift for my friends and family. For me, standing on the giving side of a gifting session is so much more enjoyable than standing on the receiving side.
The more I think about it, the weirder it is for people to make detailed Christmas lists. Personally, I think it is way more fun to see what the people who love and care about you feel is an appropriate display of their feelings for you via gift giving.
In this sense, I feel our culture has completely ruined the idea of gift giving, and it's so sad! What is intended to be an outward display of appreciation and value for someone's friendship or companionship has turned into a word doc listing not-so-subtle demands to guarantee happiness on Christmas morning.
When you have very explicit expectations for what Christmas is going to look like, you create preconceived ideas of how things should be carried out in order to guarantee satisfaction and happiness. Entering the Christmas season with little to no expectations is the most liberating feeling - there is limited opportunity for you to be disappointed, and you can focus the attention you would have allotted on creating your dream Christmas list toward coming up with the perfect gifts for your friends and family. In the long run, this is so so so much more rewarding.
Just a thought!
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