It’s a wonderful feeling – the excitement of presenting someone with a gift that you’ve put so much thought into and that you absolutely know they’ll love. Unless they don’t… love it.
You’re blindsided. What?? No squeals of joy. No grin from ear to ear. No outburst of “It’s perfect! You know me so well!”
Instead, in return for your awesome gift, the recipient gives you a forced smile and half-hearted thank you.
Now that feeling – totally sucks. But if the movie Frozen has taught us anything, it’s to Let It Go.
Don’t carry around feelings of disappointment, anger or bitterness when your gift doesn’t get the reaction you expected.
Their unenthusiastic reaction does not negate the amount of effort and thoughtfulness you put into their gift. If you tried your best there’s nothing else you could have done.
Don’t get down on yourself, and don’t get upset with what they choose to do or not do with the gift you’ve given them.
So that clothing article you so carefully picked out might never be worn in public or that beautiful artwork might never be hung in their home. During moments like these, it helps to keep in mind the times you’ve received presents that didn’t exactly match your taste. As in life, you win some, you lose some.
These things happen sometimes, and it doesn’t make you a bad gift giver. It happens to the best of us.
Heck, why do you think I’m writing this post?? Because even though I’m considered a gift giving expert, I too have experienced on more than one occasion the disappointment of giving a gift that doesn’t get the reaction you expected.
There is a silver lining. Although they may not love the gift right at the moment they open it, once they use it, wear it or play with it, they might change their mind!
The manner of giving is worth more than the gift. – Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur
Do you have a story of when your thoughtful gift fell flat or blew up in your face? Please share in the Comments section.
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