Mon, December 21, 2009 - 11:45:19

It’s the Thought That Counts.

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s the thought that counts.”  But, if you’ve ever been the recipient of the kind of gift that seems to point out your flaws rather than make you feel good, you might begin to question that old conventional wisdom.  As a humorous article on TodayShow.com points out, few of these holiday flops are given out of sheer malice and instead are the result of misinformed generosity, but no matter what the giver’s intent, they can be extremely hurtful.  Why?  Well, it has a lot to do with the power of small.

From the nose hair trimmer you never knew you needed to a brand new pair of Spanx, the little gifts we give others have an uncanny ability to communicate the way we feel, so this holiday season and throughout the year, it’s important to watch your cues and clues. 

MSNBC.com contributor, Diane Mapes, relates the story of one Albuquerque man who purchased a gift certificate for a major cosmetic surgery for his reportedly interested wife.  However, instead of smile and a thank you note, the man was rewarded with divorce papers.  Although he had intended the gift as a way to show that he was listening to his wife’s complaints about her figure, it came across to his wife as the definitive insult and ultimately that little gift certificate was enough to end their marriage.

Of course, most gift-giving disasters don’t have such dire consequences, but little by little, the small actions we take add up and play an important part in shaping our relationships with others.
So, before you exchange holiday gifts this year, take a second look at that seemingly useful gift you’ve picked out and ask yourself what it might really be saying. And if you’re questioning whether that well-intentioned gift certificate for a brow wax is appropriate, your best bet is to trust your instincts and walk away from the checkout counter.

Posted by Linda and Robin