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The Art of Gift-Giving: Choosing Meaning Over Material

Dominic Medford

Photo by Nina Mercado on Unsplash

In our fast-paced, materialistic world, the act of gift-giving has been reduced to a meaningless accounting task where the giver and receiver keep count of the value exchange. Transactional anxiety has developed, placing undue angst on the shoulders of all involved in the exchange. This bleak summation of the current gift-giving environment is one many can relate to, having experienced such exchanges at least once.

Let’s take a step back before I get all doom and gloom. I remember the joy of gifts as a child, that feeling of not knowing what you are going to get on Christmas morning, to gathering around the tree and opening your gifts one by one and the excitement and intrigue of this special time. Although as a child I thought it was the simplistic and most joyous time of the year as I got older those smiles and excitement that I saw on the faces of my family began to be pierced. I no longer only saw the small but the questions about receipts for returns or going to the shops in the following days to exchange the gifts for things that we find more favourable.

I began to see through the facade of gift-giving and had my eyes opened to the complex array of social emotions attached to this ritual.

The concern is that many have lost the art of gift-giving and are doomed to live in this cycle of angst…

Dominic Medford
Dominic Medford

Written by Dominic Medford

Law and Political Sciences student in Australia who dabbles in writing about his thought processes in his spare time with the hope that it can be insightful.

Responses (2)

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When we give the gift of an experience, we often share in the experience itself, thereby strengthening our connection with the recipient.

Great point! It’s a win-win.

Major life events such as welcoming a new baby, achieving a career milestone, or entering retirement are opportune moments for significant gifts.

I think this is my favorite. It doesn't have to be a significant milestone. As long as it matters to the person, we should send a gift.