It’s not money honey. It’s the thought.

I remember a one-liner about a dull rose in a bouquet; “A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.” It meant that rose is a rose no matter how fresh or dull it is. But what beats me about the statement is the triviality of the disregarding the thought of the gift. An expression of thought is disregarded with such frivolity. On the flip-side, it does not mean that it has to be guarded with one’s life or sheltered for the rest of one’s life. But, the value of a gift is invaluable.

On a mass celebratory occasion, I’ve found a selected few who give a thoughtful, heartfelt gift, the rest of the hound re-cycle gifts or even let the shopkeeper select and pack something for them. Why the fuss? Exactly, why the fuss. I’d rather have a strict mandate for people to not give out gifts on a mass celebratory event.

The thought in selecting a small card, the time spent on finding it in the dusty store rack, ensuring the cover is not as sepia-ed in color, signing it and giving it to someone who matters is a gift. How does the one receive the card will depend on what they get next. The value you show in the joy of receiving a gift or the value in storing it safe is what matters to the person who spent the time and thought in giving it. It’s human to lose something but the attitude in disregarding it after its lost adds on to the lack of thought and just displays indifference. A gift is about the thought. The disregard is the value attached to the person who gave it.

Gift to me is more about the thoughtfulness of the person. The gratitude is the value added to it by the person who receives it, rather than the thank you gift equal in amount. It’s not money honey. It’s the thought.