How many damn loofahs can a person use in a lifetime?

I’m not the Grinch, but I do think we’ve lost our minds when it comes to giving at Christmas. This isn’t the season of giving, it’s the season of insanity. For some reason, many of us have bought into the thought that some gift, any gift, is better than no gift.

Really? When you give someone yet another loofah, bottle of scented lotion, or some other random gizmo promoted at the holidays is it a gift or a burden?  Because now that person has to find something to do with the damn thing like whether to regift it (guilt), store it in the attic (more guilt), or throw it in the garbage (the biggest guilt of all).

Think of how many times they’re going to have to touch it and think of it before they can finally be rid of it. I’d like to argue that that this type of gift shows no regard for the recipient, but only relieves the giver by crossing something/someone off of their to-do list.

Not to mention the awkwardness of publicly opening such a thing… “Um thanks, I really needed another bottle of Kiwi Strawberry Grape body lotion.” Big smile.

The whole thing is depressing. Yet we keep doing it.

So just stop already. If you can’t come up with something the person really wants or needs or you feel you can’t afford what they would want or need, give them a real gift…give them nothing. No guilt, no thank you note, no object management. What a blessing.

To those who feel they must maintain the status quo (and thus the economy), I’m sure I could be pegged as an ingrate.  If I have to, I’ll don that  label. Better to be thought ungrateful than to be unconscious.

So save your money, save them a headache, and leave the soap on a rope at the store.

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