BY KLAUS DÖRING
THE EXPRESSIONS “year after year” and “year by year” have similar meanings, but there are differences in the way they are used.
“Year after year” is often used to focus attention on the fact that something is repeated over and over, as in this example sentence: “We vacationed there year after year, until our kids grew up.”
Gift giving and receiving and Christmas simply but surely go together is another example. Many times, it incurs our indignation. Only reluctantly, many of us defer the most important decision during the most jolliest season of the year. What is the best Christmas gift for our loved ones? Is it really an important decision, or does it delete the real meaning of Christmas? I am sure, many of us know the real answer.
The giving spirit of the holiday season seems to fade in the light of necessary obligations and finances, along with the painful dilemma of giving gifts to those who want to buy as opposed to those for whom you should buy!
Let’s think about it: To whom are we obligated at Christmas: our boss, our cousins, our parents, our partner or our children and friends as well?
What about the children? Should they give presents to people either then family members?
How about the innumerable large families especially in the Philippines that, because of economics, resort to the name drawing process at Christmas?
For me, firstly, Christmas is spirit. You can always find ways to give gifts without expenses. The most well-known and always remembered gift is to give to someone like giving time. In my family we do this mostly during the holiday season.
But if I look more around, sad to say, that “time as gift” doesn’t satisfy most of all. Well, it’s okay. There are so many ways to use your mind in terms of giving someone other things than putting Peso, Euro or Dollar notes. I am sure you know that homemade gifts can also be a very good idea.
Sure, there is etiquette of gift-giving at Christmas and also other occasions. Homemade gifts are most appropriate especially as Christmas gifts, according to Stuart E. Jacobson, book author of “The Art of Giving”. Allow me to quote Jacobson: “Homemade gifts are wonderful. A gift of imagination, a gift of creativity, a gift that shows (also!) time was put into it. A created time is a wonderful present.”
When considering a homemade gift, instead of tumbling through crowded shopping malls (as I tried again yesterday – just some days until Christmas!) and getting a headache (I really got!)! While stumbling from one mall to the next, I found out again that the real and whole essence of giving a gift is to bring pleasure to the person receiving it. Jacobson says in his book, “Homemade gifts are also ideal for children to give as presents. Kids can create things because they have a unique imagination. Children should feel free to give something to anyone they spend a lot of time with. No monetary value should be placed on what a child should give to someone.”
Very well said. I am just afraid that it seems more or less impossible nowadays in these modern times.
***
You can email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or X – Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN
