Presents for minimalists
Hanukkah has just started. Christmas is around the corner.
So, if you haven’t already bought them, you’re at least thinking about what gifts to buy me. Thank you. I appreciate your concern and thoughts, but there’s something you should know. *deep breath* I’m a wannabe minimalist, and as you already know, it’s harder than all get out to buy presents for minimalists
That’s frustrating to you, I know.
What do you buy for a guy that has most of the things he wants at the moment and doesn’t really want much as it is? Well, I’ll tell you, my friends.
Minimalists are the way they are for innumerable reasons. They might fear commitment, thrive on flexibility, have a moral objection to “stuff,” or who knows what. For my part, I like toys, but I like activities and experiences more. While my wife and I might disagree now and then about what constitutes “going for a walk,” we both cherish our time together and ultimately do not care if one of us thinks we’re strolling (and maybe going too slow to “walk”) while the other thinks we’re speed walking (and maybe going too fast to enjoy the walk itself).
When my wife asked what my parents wanted for Christmas, I said that they’re much more interested in experiences than they are in things.
The minimalist in your life is more concerned with enjoying eating or drinking something with you, seeing a new place, spending time with someone, learning a new skill, or doing something that somehow increases their quality of life. If that requires a new thing to be bought, they might be okay with that.
But, chances are that they won’t be okay with you getting them a new thing just because it’s Christmas.
As you continue your holiday shopping for me (thank you again), please think about what you and I can share (a skype session, a fun time, a dinner, and so on). I’d much rather have an experience than a thing.
Minimalist Mac OS X Desktop by David Turnbull
