Holidays? Bah humbug!
I was just reading an article on CNN.com that supported the benefits of giving, and so the old saying goes: It's better to give than to receive.
Does science agree it’s better to give than receive? A doctor explains | CNN https://share.google/iknkHjeAgNBOg2prp
The question: Is it really? It's the time of the year when it's a pretty common practice (or even a tradition) for many of us to give holiday presents to the ones we love, or those we care about and appreciate.
As someone who has both given and received gifts, I feel a great deal of satisfaction from gifting, especially when I want to acknowledge or show my appreciation for someone and don't expect anything in return. So it's true that when you give from the heart, giving feels good and becomes meaningful.
I'll be honest when I say holiday gifting has been a source of stress and anxiety too, and perhaps others can relate to this experience. This is when giving comes with pressure and guilt, as has been the case with me in the past. As I get older, I've gotten better and set boundaries by reminding myself that giving Christmas presents is not and shouldn't be obligatory, but still, it can't be helped sometimes. That's just human nature. My nature.
Gift-giving can also backfire when expectations are set high. An example is when you expect the other person to reciprocate, but this is hardly an issue for couples, friends, and family when giving is a given.
To quote Dr. Leanna Wen, "Giving can be good for health, but only when it is done thoughtfully and within one’s means."
What say you? What are your thoughts on holiday gifting?
I was just reading an article on CNN.com that supported the benefits of giving, and so the old saying goes: It's better to give than to receive.
Does science agree it’s better to give than receive? A doctor explains | CNN https://share.google/iknkHjeAgNBOg2prp
The question: Is it really? It's the time of the year when it's a pretty common practice (or even a tradition) for many of us to give holiday presents to the ones we love, or those we care about and appreciate.
As someone who has both given and received gifts, I feel a great deal of satisfaction from gifting, especially when I want to acknowledge or show my appreciation for someone and don't expect anything in return. So it's true that when you give from the heart, giving feels good and becomes meaningful.
I'll be honest when I say holiday gifting has been a source of stress and anxiety too, and perhaps others can relate to this experience. This is when giving comes with pressure and guilt, as has been the case with me in the past. As I get older, I've gotten better and set boundaries by reminding myself that giving Christmas presents is not and shouldn't be obligatory, but still, it can't be helped sometimes. That's just human nature. My nature.
Gift-giving can also backfire when expectations are set high. An example is when you expect the other person to reciprocate, but this is hardly an issue for couples, friends, and family when giving is a given.
To quote Dr. Leanna Wen, "Giving can be good for health, but only when it is done thoughtfully and within one’s means."
What say you? What are your thoughts on holiday gifting?
