Hi coug, did the prescient and puissant penni put her pretty finger on the point of your problem?
Why, indeed, shop for gifts except things that will be loved? Are your loved ones so plebian that nothing can make their hearts take flight? Not so, not so. But you must learn to understand their hearts.
Many people gave my former partner books, because he seemed so erudite. He thanked them kindly, put the book in a box, and never looked at it again. I stalked his heart, and learned that it loved azaleas, then gifted him with tubs of azalea plants, which he at least planted, and tried to keep alive, but that is another story.
My father loves to hunt ducks. I gifted him with hand-made serving platters, molded in a duck shape and painted duck colors. It made his heart happy.
The feeling of despair you feel when you walk through a shopping mall is your conscience, telling you that you have not properly stalked your subject's heart . . . a daunting task, to be sure, if you must gift anyone and everyone. May I suggest getting catalogues from art museums, there are beautiful objects from all over the world, even for the most hopelessly plebian, scarves, ties, with William Morris prints, reproduction knick-knacks that will flatter the receiver that you believe in his/her elevated taste. Startle. Amuse. Intrigue.
Don't try to give down to the receiver's level. Give at your own.
CobaltBlue |
