Living Generously
Not Another Gift Guide
We all have to give presents and some of us also have to write gift guides—that’s just the way it is. So let’s make the presents good and let’s try to make the guide good, too. Here are a few giving principles and some sordid specifics for showing our appreciation.
I always like a present that’s a special version of something we use everyday: a nicer bottle opener, fountain pen, lighter or set of chopsticks. These have the added benefit of being used. But say you don’t want to take too much time then just get something irrefutably good: caviar, Champagne, smoked salmon. Then you can give the same thing every year. People will look forward to a bottle of the good stuff.
I don’t think a gift should take up a lot of space, require assembly, suggest some form of self improvement or generally be exhausting. I don’t want an 800-page book or have to learn a new skill. I don’t want to have to rearrange my kitchen to make this thing fit. And nobody wants clothing that implies they need to take a new direction in their life. If they want to open up, relax and wear pink then they’ll do that on their own.
Now let’s get specific: