I love picking out gifts for people. 

It might be something I saw in a shop that instantly reminded me of them. Or it might be something they brought up months ago (I add that to my mental wishlist to use later). It’s almost like a quiet test of how well I know what they like. Honestly, I really like that challenge. No one’s going to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the fun isn’t just for them. It’s for me too. 

And then came wishlists. 

Even for simple gift exchanges, like secret Santa or friendsgiving, voila, there’s already a curated list of suggestions. It’s definitely the play-it-safe option, the receiver would obviously like it and there’s no need for it to sit forgotten in the back of a closet or on the way back to the store. 

And this works just fine, up until you meet that one person who gives the dreaded and extraordinarily helpful hint of “surprise me”.

It’s not that I don’t like wishlists, they’re super useful for organizing things I’d like to get in the future. I just don’t love the idea of people simply buying holiday presents off a list. It’s too easy and oversimplified. What happened to searching all over for something or making something by yourself like they do on TV? The pressure, anticipation and an unpredictable reaction are all crucial parts of gift giving. 

A gift shouldn’t be about perfection or money. Not to be cheesy, but it’s really the thought that counts and the love you pour into it that really shows. A gift should feel like a bundle of love. 

Take the gift wrap hiding the surprise. The time taken to wrap something knowing it’s going to be torn apart anyway, is dedication I’ve always admired. Maybe the gift doesn’t always have to be super functional but it should reflect how you feel about the other person.

This winter, take the risk. 

Gift someone something from the heart. 

It might just be what their heart truly desires!