The holiday season is upon us, and so is the gift-giving season. For some, this time of year has been a long time coming as they plan ahead with gift baskets for loved ones, while others sport their art skills with handmade tokens of appreciation or timeless letters. While gift-giving tends to look different from person to person, I believe that people should continue to involve meaning in the act so that the spirit of the holidays persists and waste is avoided.
Coming up with ideas for presents does not come instantly; it often requires mulling over several options before settling on one. Where most people turn the corner prematurely, however, is by skipping the latter step entirely. With the holiday season compelling people to participate in festivities as much as possible, this sometimes can mean buying gifts simply to partake in the spirit of the holidays. Buying gifts out of obligation leads to mindless gift giving — when money is splurged on items with little effort or meaning behind them. Not only does this practice counteract the entire point of gift-giving, it is clearly unsustainable for the environment.
For example, Stanford University, under their article “Holiday Waste Prevention,” found that Americans create 25% extra waste during the holiday season, and that waste amounts to 25 million tons. From the heaps of gift wrapping to bow ties, it is not difficult to imagine how much waste could be reduced if people simply steered clear of careless gifting. In a win-win situation, people can genuinely feel the emotional weight of their gifts while also taking a burden off of the environment.
Gifts should express a mutual appreciation for the relationship built between both the recipient and the gift giver. Consequently, during the holiday season, it should be incumbent on everyone to give with care so that unnecessary waste is avoided, and the passion for gifting remains.
Also, giving gifts is not the only way to express appreciation for a relationship. According to the Huffington Post article “This Is The Most Common Of The 5 Love Languages,” receiving gifts ranks the lowest out of the five basic love languages — behind physical touch, acts of service, quality time, and words of affirmation. As it turns out, there are valid alternatives that one can invest their time into this holiday season if gift-giving is not their expertise. Whether that is hosting parties with your friends, going out for dinner with your parents, or watching a long-awaited movie — there are plenty of options. Rather than being treated like an obligation during the holidays, gift-giving has the potential to remain the meaningful act of love it always was meant to be.