will you accept someone else's gift…

thought thursday…

In a recent conversation a woman was sharing a story of how she’d purchased a gift for her then boyfriend. She was waiting on the right time which became not the time at all to give him the surprise.

They soon broke up and she decided to keep the gift, not being able to return it because she’d lost the receipt. Entering in a new relationship, she told me that she really liked the new guy, who happened to have a birthday approaching.

They were going to be dating about 6 months when his birthday rolled around, and she asked me if she could give him the gift she’d bought for her ex? My thoughts immediately went to “he” giving me the ring he’d bought for another. Hell no, I don’t want her ring, and although I was sure he wouldn’t do so, I was compelled to ask him.

Is it okay to give someone else a gift you bought for another person. People do it at Christmas all the time, although that doesn’t make it right or wrong it happens. It’s best when the person who bought the gift initially see it being passed from the receiver as a new gift to someone else. Their eyes get big thinking, “did I give that to you last year?”

Do you re-gift? Pass along a gift that was given to you? Or better yet purchase something for one person and eventually giving it to someone else? How would you feel if you knew the gifts were intended for someone else?

Can you handle it? Would it matter either way? Can you dish it and not take it? Would you be wearing it with thoughts of “this wasn’t even picked out for me.”

I have to say, the only thing that’s standing out that I wouldn’t be able to accept would be an engagement ring. Clothes, or shoes (as long as they are unworn) I wouldn’t care. A car! Who cares….

** “He” said he would never.