Some of the best presents are those that cost the least - Essay Example

Some of the best presents are those that cost the least Most people are highly appreciative to receive presents or gifts for whatever occasions. Giftgiving is a universal tradition practiced all over the world. According to Corbett (2010), presents or gifts are defined as “objects given from one person to another person, with regards to increasing the amount of happiness in their life, or just decreasing the amount of sadness.” (par. 1) Gift giving is done on special days (birthdays, graduation day, anniversaries) special occasions (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving), and in times when a person might need some special attention and uplifting of one’s spirit (when one is sick, has lost someone, or is sad and depressed).

Not many people are aware that gift giving was originally practiced in early civilizations. People in tribes gave tributes to their leaders as a token of love, loyalty and appreciation. “They used bark and wood from the trees, and reeds to fashion unique objects. The Roman practice of presenting the Emperor, and each other was with good luck tokens. They received presents in order to procure favor and to demonstrate allegiance, a practice still in place today.” (Corbett, 2010, par. 2)What started as simple and cheap presents eventually led to more intricate, expensive and luxurious gifts.

With the growth and development of technology, there are just so many products in the market that any one can choose from. As people become more inventive, innovative, and creative, a wide array of gift items are offered in the market at everyone’s delight. Concurrently, people gained increasingly alternative sources of income giving those potentials to spend more. In an article written by Moon (2009), people started to give expensive and luxurious gifts to “please the senses, soul, mind and spirit.

By nature this type of gift symbolizes something that is not necessarily a necessity, but something that obviously adds pleasure, comfort and frills” (par. 6). Though the giver can obviously afford giving expensive presents, the recipient can either appreciate it or not depending on status, need, and personal philosophy in life.Some of the best presents are those that cost the least. The true value of gifts is not shown in the price tags for the presents bought. Anyone can easily buy anything without sincere regard for what the recipient truly needs.

Presents which are well thought of and creatively done by the giver – however simple it is – still is the best present that anyone could give. In an article written in Journey 2 Retirement, the author relayed her experience of giving her parents $700 for Christmas – although honestly, she thought this is what her parents would truly appreciate. His brother gave them a nicely made calendar from cut-out family pictures which only cost $40 plus his time and creative talent.As it turned out, the author’s parents really loved his brother’s calendar, saying that “the true value of a gift wasn’t attached to the price tag.

It’s how much thought and time you put into it” (Journey, 2007, par. 8). Gifts are meant to touch the lives of the recipient. The giver who truly wants the recipient to be pleased, felt loved, happy, and uplifted should know the deepest needs in their hearts. The moral is synonymous to what Antoine de Sainte-Expiry wrote in his famous novel, The Little Prince: “it is only with the heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye”. (1943, 21).Works Cited:Corbett, Janie.

Origin of Gift Giving. 2010. Web. 15 March 2010. De Sainte-Exupery, Antoine. The Little Prince. Chapter 21. 1943. Web. 15 March 2010. < http://home.pacific.net.hk/~rebylee/text/prince/21.html> Journey 2 Retirement. True value of a gift. 27 December 2007. Web. 15 March 2010. < http://journey2retirement.com/blog/2007/12/27/true-value-of-a-gift/> Moon, Louis. Luxury Gift Ideas. 2009. Web. 15 March 2010.