From a Professional Organizer point of view the answer is plain and simply NO! But since I'm actually human too I realize there are circumstances that could make us react otherwise or could be highly offensive if we don't keep an unwanted gift.
Gift-giving is tricky. Some people think they are doing us a favor when in reality they are adding to the clutter in our lives because something we won't use or don't like.
Sometimes all our clients needs is permission to do what they want to do in the first place (get rid of it). In another blog post, Whose House Is It Anyway? I give you that permission.
In this blog post, I'll try to be more gentler for those who would rather be cluttered and "kind" and keep things that have no value to you.
I'll give 4 tips to get rid of or using unwanted gifts in a gracious way:
1. Be Discerning. Often a person who gave you a gift may not care if you want to exchange it or get rid of it altogether.
Once I bought some cologne for my husband online without sampling it first but only going off reviews. Let me tell you (as you probably already know), that was dumb and stinky decision. My husband swears he liked it and he wore it from time to time. I tried to nicely convince him he could get rid of it if he didn't like it. He never did but when it ended up under the bathroom sink and not with his other collection of everyday smell-goods, I knew it was time to throw it away and I did it...for us. Phew! He didn't miss it but if it was up to him, he would still have it...
2. Make if Useful. I'm the type of person who doesn't like unnecessary waste. If I feel something could be useful to someone else, as a gift giver it may sit better with me if I found out or was asked that my gift be given to someone who could really use it, versus being thrown in the trash or atrophied. So bottom line is re-gifting to someone who could appreciate it more. The gift giver may think more of that than keeping it as a dusty keepsake.
3. Risk it. Okay so this will probably sound bad, but risk offending the gift-giver and express your displeasure for the gift with tack and graciousness . Or just simply thank them for the gift and get rid of it and if they ask you about it graciously explain why you didn't keep it. It's not easy but I'm coming from my digging deep lessons from Breneé Brown. Here is a quote from her book The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
: "Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen." What does that have to do with the ugly brown and green sweater Aunt Jules gave you? Well being authentic means that sometimes we just won't like something someone gives us. Don't be mean however. If the person is truly our friend or truly loves us their feelings might be slightly hurt but they'll get over it in time. It's better to be authentic and be forgiven than live a lie and hurt inside and add to our clutter problem in the process. Adding to someone's cluttered life isn't love. "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely." was written by the Apostle Paul thousands of years ago is something that can benefit our lives today.
: "Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen." What does that have to do with the ugly brown and green sweater Aunt Jules gave you? Well being authentic means that sometimes we just won't like something someone gives us. Don't be mean however. If the person is truly our friend or truly loves us their feelings might be slightly hurt but they'll get over it in time. It's better to be authentic and be forgiven than live a lie and hurt inside and add to our clutter problem in the process. Adding to someone's cluttered life isn't love. "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely." was written by the Apostle Paul thousands of years ago is something that can benefit our lives today.
4. Re-purpose it. That too-big tee shirt from your parent's vacation could be used to sleep in or used to work around the house. The mismatched china from your second cousin's estate could be used as decoration. You can always reuse or re purpose something. That way you keep it and honor it without it turning into regret and a box of "something" in the closet, garage, basement, or corner.
So be your authentic self and recognize when you'll never use a gift or be creative to make it fit your style or use. Perhaps you can give it to someone who can use it more than you. Hoping it has a gift receipt and you can return it for something that will not turn into clutter in your life.
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| Found on craftgawker.com |
So be your authentic self and recognize when you'll never use a gift or be creative to make it fit your style or use. Perhaps you can give it to someone who can use it more than you. Hoping it has a gift receipt and you can return it for something that will not turn into clutter in your life.
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Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally. Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company. To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.
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