Life is very unpredictable, we all know that. And the same goes for gifting. When giving, the giver has no clue whether the gift is something the receiver would love or at most, find useful but they go ahead to gift it. Why? I think the right answer to that is because gifting is more about intentionality than materiality. The receiver on his own part, does not always get that which he wants as gifts all the time. He might receive something he isn't open to accepting from others or something he doesn't even need at the time. But when the giver has done his part, it is left to the receiver to make do whatever he chooses to, with the gift.
For someone who's making conscious effort in incorporating minimalism into her lifestyle, when I receive gifts from people, items I do not need at that moment and may never use in months to come, there are only two things I do with such gifts.
With minimalism, waste is never an option and so, the first thing that comes to mind is to gift them to someone else that wants or needs it. Personally, one gift that I've received a number of times, but most times found unusable, is perfumes. I love perfumes a lot but I'm very picky when it comes to them. So, when people gift me perfumes I can't use because they have strong scents that aren't to my liking, what I do is give it out to people around me who do not have a problem with such scents. That way, the perfume is utilized. Even if it's not by me.
Letting go of gifts I know I have no use for, as a minimalist, has been very useful in decluttering my personal space. When I'm gifted a lipgloss different from the one I use, or a shade of mascara that's not to my liking, or an outfit I have no intention of wearing, I give them out to those who will find them more useful than I ever will. That way, I can prioritize and surround myself with only that which I have need for.
There was this particular time, an aunt of mine gifted me a dress. The dress was pretty but the design was a really dramatic one. And knowing myself, that was a dress I'd likely wear just once a year. That's because it was the kind that if I had worn as it was, the exhaustion that naturally came with attending events that required a dress like that would have doubled. What I did was to cut some dramatic parts off the dress, making it simpler, and a perfect fit for me.
That's it, the second thing I do with gifts I have no particular use for. When they are items I can repurpose, and find another use for them, other than the initial, I do so. That way, I get to make the most out of gifts and appreciate every effort.
This is my entry to the #KISS prompt for the week
Images are mine