A Christmas Special: Christmas gifts

Truth to tell, I was really waiting for gifts that I would be getting during the season. This was the only time of the year when I could get a lot of presents from a lot of different people. Being a kid, I felt like I ought to get gifts from my parents, grandparents, godparents, aunties and uncles, family friends, and even from that friendly neighbor down the street - they all gave me stuff. And come Christmas day, my stocking would be fully stocked, heavy and bulging with my "Christmas loot".

The tension would gradually mount and begin to be unbearable when our family Christmas dinner drew near. I would get this uncontrollable itch in my hands that could only be alleviated by grabbing all my gifts from under the tree and rip the wrappings to shreds. More often than not, I did not let this get the better of me and I would just calm myself down by shaking my gifts to see if I got toys or clothes. You don't have to guess which of the two I wanted more.

Now that I am grown up, things are reversed. I am the one doing the giving, instead of me receiving the gifts. Being an adult, I feel like it is now my turn to give to my parents, grandparents, godparents, brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles, cousins, family friends, girlfriends, officemates, and even that friendly neighbor down the street - I give them all some gifts. And come Christmas day, my pockets would feel light because there would have been close to zero cash left in it. True, I may now have less in terms of money, but I gain more than twice what I spend through joy and goodwill. Seeing their faces light up like a whole set of Christmas lights when they receive my gifts is more than enough to make my day.

After doing it for quite some time, my gift-giving strategy has been honed to a fine edge. It is so razor-sharp it could take your eye out. It starts in January because as early as then, I would already start saving money. By the time November comes, I would have saved enough to be able to plan a budget and start thinking of what gifts to buy. All gifts would then be bought before November ends, be wrapped by December - making it ready when Christmas dinner comes.

It's funny how things change, how I have changed -- from receiving to giving. I used to be a child who thought that he was happiest by the number of gifts he gets. I changed into this person who makes other people (especially those close to me) happy - to let them know my appreciation of the part they play in my life. After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about?