Gifts can be loaded with emotion

Gifts can be loaded with emotion.

That guilt we feel when giving something away because someone you love gave it to you.

And the sense of obligation to keep it because it came from someone you love.

I struggled with this.

And the more I thought about it, I started to wonder, “Can I remember every gift I've ever given?”

- not a chance!

Would I be upset if someone donated something I'd given them?

- No!

So why was I so worried about it?

Instead I changed my perspective and looked at the intentions behind the gifts.

Why were they given to me?

They were given to say I love you, thank you, or congratulations.

And I realised that those intentions aren’t lost if I no longer have the gift.

That the message stays, even if the gift is gone.

It doesn’t dishonour the gift.

It allows it to move on to a new home.

And it frees us from the guilt and obligation of keeping everything we’ve been given.