This Christmas, give when you feel like it
As promised, this is the continuation of my Christmas article.
When giving gifts, be willing to give and not pressure yourself into gift-giving. Remember that people do not demand presents from you but expect you to give gifts in return. The cycle of gift-giving only stops when 'willing and consenting' parties cut the expectations process. This does not necessarily undermines generosity but only puts into proper context and perspective the act of being generous: that either one gives or receives.
Of course, there is excitement and thrill at the sight of gifts. And the whole idea of receiving gives a semblance of 'this is the only time when I can get as many gifts as I want'. Call this the height of materialism or the commercial underpinning of Christmas. Can we do away with the whole notion? Only when we embrace the nobility of its purpose.
The profundity and pure intentions escape once clear grasp of Christmas when everything appears to be plain and simple celebration of gift-giving that is imposed by inter-generational culture. This is not unique of Filipinos. But what sets this paradigm apart from the 'others' is the premium we put on 'who among the recipients' deserve to have the greater value. The value depends on: affinity, importance, need, wish and status of the receiving end. The last one precisely and selfishly alienates reciprocity that aspires for the true essence and essential of 'equal importance'.
What one gives and gets is a matter of ulterior motive.
LESSON: Do not expect to get what you want. And when you do not receive anything from the person who you least expect not to give you, it is perfectly alright. The fewer gifts you get, the lesser the requirement to reciprocate.
Christmas is not about physical gifts. It is ideally feeling it like it is.
When giving gifts, be willing to give and not pressure yourself into gift-giving. Remember that people do not demand presents from you but expect you to give gifts in return. The cycle of gift-giving only stops when 'willing and consenting' parties cut the expectations process. This does not necessarily undermines generosity but only puts into proper context and perspective the act of being generous: that either one gives or receives.
Of course, there is excitement and thrill at the sight of gifts. And the whole idea of receiving gives a semblance of 'this is the only time when I can get as many gifts as I want'. Call this the height of materialism or the commercial underpinning of Christmas. Can we do away with the whole notion? Only when we embrace the nobility of its purpose.
The profundity and pure intentions escape once clear grasp of Christmas when everything appears to be plain and simple celebration of gift-giving that is imposed by inter-generational culture. This is not unique of Filipinos. But what sets this paradigm apart from the 'others' is the premium we put on 'who among the recipients' deserve to have the greater value. The value depends on: affinity, importance, need, wish and status of the receiving end. The last one precisely and selfishly alienates reciprocity that aspires for the true essence and essential of 'equal importance'.
What one gives and gets is a matter of ulterior motive.
LESSON: Do not expect to get what you want. And when you do not receive anything from the person who you least expect not to give you, it is perfectly alright. The fewer gifts you get, the lesser the requirement to reciprocate.
Christmas is not about physical gifts. It is ideally feeling it like it is.
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