It is that special time in the life of a loved one and you are confused on what gift to buy them? In buying gifts a lot of questions are asked because you want to choose the perfect present for that friend or relative. What then can you buy that will be worthwhile yet needed?
Well, a gift is not usually about what it is given but the impression behind it. Gifts go a long way in communicating to whom it is given to. That is why some gifts though small and seemingly worthless are more appreciated than some big ones. I once had a discussion with a relative about a gift that he got from a client because of the service he rendered to them. It was an envelope. When he was given, he put it somewhere in his wallet without even opening it. Three weeks after, he was checking through his wallet in order to put away those things that were not necessary in it. Then he took out the envelope, opened it and found a cheque in it. Lol, I know you want to know the amount of money written there; I would keep it a secret but it was quite a large sum of money. It was well appreciated because he was not even expecting anything. This brings us to our first point.
The first thing that should be considered is the need to change how gifts are perceived. To choose the perfect gift, the understanding that we have about them come to play and will help to make the right choice. Gifts are not all about the material things given. What the gifts communicate is a part of it. Gifts communicate a message to the receiver. Citing an example, there was a lady who had a squabble with her partner. The partner having seen how angry and pained she was about the situation needed to pacify her. In a bid to do so, he did not know how to approach her to apologize so he felt gifting her something she loved will be very good. He knew she had a flair for bandanas (small colorful handkerchief) and she had earlier told him about the color that she would like to get next. Therefore, he thought it wise to give her that little but lovely gift to make peace. She got the message. So, he succeeded in communicating with her through the gift he gave her.
In continuation, in selecting good gifts asides having a good perception about gifting, it is important that the personality being gifted is understood. Some people appreciate the gift of compliments; others prefer the physical objects while some love both. Considering this, one can almost tell what will be the best gift for a person.
Thirdly, while choosing the ideal present, the type of gift you want offer matters. You, getting a gift for a loved one, will know whether that particular item or compliment will be bring about a positive response or not. There is a big difference between, ‘you have done well’ and ‘at least you could have done better’. Both are actually words of encouragement but while one will be well appreciated, the other will not be taken so well.
Finally, gifts do not just come on special days or for special occasions alone, they make normal days special for those you love and care about. They can be given anytime; however little, the intent of the heart of the giver matters a lot.
By Funke Waleola
Funke Waleola is an Obafemi Awolowo University graduate of Linguistics and African Languages. She is a sports analyst at Top radio (90.9fm) with an unreserved flair for entertainment. She loves baking, cooking and has interests in writing and the media in general. She is currently a CIAPS Postgraduate Professional Student of Media and Journalism.