It's More Than Garbage

It's Christmas time and that means a lot of things. It means things that matter, like the birth of Christ, and even more that don't matter like ridiculous traffic. Something that shouldn't matter, and for the majority of normal people doesn't, is wrapping presents.

We go searching for the perfect gift for everyone on our list and then buy garbage to put it in. I'm not kidding. When you purchase a roll of wrapping paper you are literally paying for garbage. The receiver will rip it off, crumble it up, and throw it away. This frustrates Brian and he would just as well put gifts in a brown lunch bag.

For me, though, I love wrapping presents. People hate it and see it as an overwhelming task that haunts them until it's completed. To them I say don't buy so many presents. Or take the slacker's way out and get gift bags. Please at least use coordinating tissue paper. Me? I think of it like dressing up the gift for a special occasion.

Gifts are great but it's all about presentation. The person you're giving it to knows you didn't just run into Target 10 minutes before the party and grab the first thing you saw under $20, even if you did. It shows them you put time and thought into doing something just for them. If you do it right they will say "it's so pretty I don't want to open it!" Mission accomplished. At this point they honestly value the THOUGHT and NOT what's inside. Now your Target Dollar Spot grab bag of novelty post-it notes and travel sized hand lotion is the best gift at the party.

If my mother taught me anything it's how to wrap a present.