my gray matter: my christmas list

November 11, 2004

my christmas list

in case you were planning to buy me a present for christmas this year, i wanted to make public my christmas list. let’s be honest, it’s going to save me a trip to return whatever you picked out for me if you simply use this list. rather than being creative or thoughtful, lets get back to the real meaning of christmas… you giving me what i want, baby jesus in a santa clause suit, and burl ives singing the christmas songs of a day long past.

actually, my goal this year is to completely avoid receiving or giving any obligatory gifts. so if you were planning to give me something, but only out of obligation, i’m releasing you from any guilt, and giving full permission to not give me anything. and, if i happen to give you a present, but you haven’t gotten one for me, i release you from any form of embarrassment for not reciprocating a gift. i’m tired of obligation and guilt deciding my christmas gift list, so i wrote out a list of everyone i’m going to get a gift for this year. i know it’s early, but i wanted to be sure that my list most accurately represented the people that i genuinely want to give to. if you’re not on the list, don’t take it personally. it’s not even a reflection of the quality of our friendship. i have some great friends that i’m not planning to give to, maybe because i don’t need to give them a gift to state the value of our friendship.

if after all this you are still planning to give me a present, i have a recommendation for you. the problem with giving me a present is that i genuinely don’t need anything. i can say, with full confidence, that i have every single thing i need in life. even my “want” list is pretty small. so, what can you give me for christmas this year? do something kind for someone who truly has need. buy a sweater for a homeless person. give one of your coats away to a person living on the street who is cold. invite a hungry person into a restaurant to eat with you. volunteer to serve christmas dinner at a soup kitchen. take the money you would have spent on me, and give kindness and warmth to someone in need. now that would be the best gift you could give me.

November 11, 2004 at 07:53 AM | Permalink