Annual Gift Trends
An all out blast of love, caring, and goodwill will set 2010 apart as a special celebratory celebration to end the stress of misery of a prolonged economic recession. Perfumes and exotic scents will be in the air, exotic foods, wines from vintage years, will spell fun for the haute cuisine group; for the college age groups it will be the latest gadgetry. For all, merriment and a hint of better times to be. But most of all, now that we are only six months away from 2011 and its holiday season and the economy is only slightly improved, this year common sense will prevail. And that means more thoughtful gifts, less expensive gifts.
The younger set will do with less toys that are watched. They will do more with toys that engage the youngster to get involved in their world. This will be high on the mom's list for them. Specially designed computers to teach reading and math and other visual guides will be welcomed. Mostly the little ones will love toys that mimic what big brother or big sister is occupying themselves with. While this may or may not set well with mom or pop, that is indeed a another rocking horse of another color, and of another age.Gadgets having to do with music is still popular with tween groups and teenagers, and may be on their list of gifts to receive this coming holiday season. That means guitars and guitar lessons, DVDs of favored singers' performances, and it also means a set of drums for many of the cheerful little noise makers. Ball room dancing and gift cards for those who will be signing up for classes come January and the depressed and slow season, will be most welcomed. The first month or so after the big blast of Christmas is normally somewhat depressed. And whatever gets one out of the doldrums will be a big gift winner. Who then can say that dreaming of 'Dancing with the Stars' is folly?The elderly is not to be forgotten and what will make the best hits with them is dinner out with their loved ones. They will like nothing better than getting dressed up in seldom worn clothes and treated as royalty on a dinner date. Christmas, they know, is made for them and they welcome it with both arms.And for them, be kind, and accept what ever they offer in the name of goodwill. Most of them over the age of sixty fully recognize that gift giving is far superior to gift receiving and they will be out giving in droves this holiday season. And when they ask that you not give to them, but make an offering to feed the homeless in their honor, do it. They mean it with all their heart.For husbands and wives, the best gift one can give the other is the gift of listening, of loving, and of acceptance of the others' peculiarities. Do it with love and it is will be more meaningful. It won't hurt of course if that special little bottle of perfume, or that special after-shave accompanies it. All the while remembering the reason for the season and all the glad tidings that go along with it.Christmas is a time of celebrating, make no mistake about it; what it is not, is a season of getting, give me, do this for me. Christmas is more of a good feeling knowing that God really does love us all. So have fun, party, give gifts, receive gifts, but do it all for Him.
