They aren’t immortalized in rhyme, like the Grinch. Their names aren’t synonymous with misanthropy, like Scrooge. But every holiday season, untold numbers of these spirit-sapping characters appear in our midst.
They are the Hard to Buy For, and like the devil himself, they assume many forms: the hobby-less brother-in-law; the enthusiast so serious about her leisure-time pursuits that an outsider could never get a gift right; the dad who overnights himself whatever he wants; the teenager with unknowable preferences; the mom who insists she needs nothing; the baby with fussy parents.
Comments
Why must the shopping go on? Those of us who have everything we need and most of what we want. We should release our loved ones from the burdens of pointless shopping. If there are things we want from each other, we can look for them together.
It is not hard to find people near and far with needs that are easier to identify. We can do something for others, and still have TIME for each other.
Give to Plan International or Heiffer or Salvation Army or any other organization in the name of "already has everything" and get a trinket to wrap. Or give your mom a restaurant gift card and tell her she has to take you to lunch.
We need to change our traditions and our expectations.
And i am not a grinch. I have to wrap presents this week for those in my life who need things and wait for Christmas to get them.
Forget about these snobby, 'hard-to-buy' for egotists; give a gift to a charity in their name instead. It might make them human.