All good things are wild and free

This whole idea that this is "no free gift" really bothers me. Who says gifts have to be tangible? The greatest gift I've ever received was my nephew, is he not a gift? Or another that I hold nearly as dear was simple guidance on my first camping trip...these are gifts right? If you want to get right down to the nitty gritty then sure, these things cost something, whether it be 10 hours of labor or a considerable amount of patience.

As far as the tangible gifts go, I do agree that the majority of people who give gifts are only doing it on certain religious holidays they probably never acknowledge any other time of the year, such as christmas or easter. And this is sad. I personally could not care less about such holidays. They are one of america's lovely ways it earns a considerable amount of money every year by convincing ignorant citizens they must buy something. Some stores are only open for the christmas season which can drag in so much money it need not be open year round. I'm guilty also of giving into this unreasonable holiday, but I like to think that I don't buy into as much as everyone else does. It's during these holidays that people give and expect to be given to. But who likes the dreadful feeling that they must get something for someone, or even who they should get something for just because the other person will probably buy something for them?

I think we as a people need to not focus so much on religious holidays to give gifts, but instead, if we're going to give gifts have it be only out of the intention to see a smile on the face of someone we care about. I also think we should be giving more gifts of meaning, maybe gifts that some people don't consider gifts at all, just acts of kindness... as Thoreau once said, "all good things are wild and free".