The holiday season is full of giving to others, but not everyone is so excited to give at this time of year. Some people prefer to receive gifts rather than give them. Receiving gifts is an enjoyable experience because opening a gift from someone else is always special. There are many reasons why people like to give gifts rather than receive, one of which is that it makes people feel good and shows how much you care about another person.
Giving someone a meaningful gift makes many people feel good and can bring family and friends closer together. Senior Nate Kanuit believes that giving gifts is better than receiving them for a couple of reasons.
“It makes you feel better, and it shows how much you care about them,” Kanuit said.
Those who prefer to receive gifts rather than give them are not selfish or greedy. They prefer to receive gifts for more practical reasons. Sophomore Grant Blumberg likes to get gifts more than give them.
“It is hard to spend money, so receiving is more convenient than giving, making it better,” Blumberg said.
However, most people can agree that giving gifts makes you feel good and has a more rewarding feeling than receiving. Giving a good a gift to a family member or friend often produces a feeling of happiness.
“I am more excited to give a good gift because I can feel good about it for a long time,” Blumberg said.
When it comes to buying gifts, many want to get it done quickly and be done with it. Others take their time and make sure they get the perfect gift for everyone.
“I usually make one trip to the mall to get [gifts] all at once [and] will stay as long as it takes to get everyone a gift,” Kanuit said.
It is a wide misconception that the more a gift costs the better it is. In reality, the best gift can be something that simply means a lot to whoever it is given to.
“The best gifts are not the most expensive, they are the gifts the person wanted the most,” Blumberg said.
“Sometimes a handmade/homemade gift can mean a lot more than an expensive gift,” Kanuit said.
Giving gifts does not only apply to friends and family, many people like to donate to charity. Charity is a great way to give back to the community and help those who are in need. Like giving a good gift, giving to charity makes people feel good about themselves.
“Donating to charity makes [me] feel happy and feel like [I’ve] done something good to help those in need,” Blumberg said.
Many people have a favorite gift that they have given or received. Often that gift means a lot and has high sentimental value. As it was said before, the best gifts are not always the most expensive.
“The best gift I have ever given was a pair of Jordan’s for my nephew,” Kanuit said.
While some find satisfaction from giving gifts, others find it from receiving them. Ultimately, the sharing of gifts between friends and family is the highlight of the holiday season.