Christmas is all about the gifts. We give them. We receive them. We re-gift and donate the ones we don’t even like.

But Christmas is about so much more than the gifts. It’s about family, tradition, candy canes, etc. In the grand scheme of it all, the gifts are really meaningless. So that is why I don’t actually want anything for Christmas this year, or any Christmas at all.

Personally, I am not that big on gifts. It’s so much work and planning, and it is so much pressure trying to figure out what I want my parents to buy me - as if I am a six-year-old. I don’t like asking for what I want because it’s usually something that I would buy for myself anyway. If it is clothing, it’s often not in my size or even in my personal style, and I either return it or donate it if there wasn’t a receipt. (Sorry Grandma!)

Don’t get me started on expensive gifts either. I feel incredibly terrible when people spend way more money on me than I did on them. My price limit for a gift is $100, and that is only if I actually like you - like my mom. If you spend $200, $300, or $1,000 on a gift for me, I will make you return it, and we’ll use that money to buy a steak dinner.

I am not big on spending money on things; that's materialistic to me. If I do give/receive a gift, I want it to come from a place of meaning. The best Christmas gifts I have received that I still have to this day, are all gifts that came from the people that know me best and chose a gift that was personal to me. Since I like to write, my grandparents, mom, and dad usually give me journals, pens, and books off my reading list. (I know! I’m a nerd! I’m fine with it.) I still have all of those old journals, pens, and books because these are the kinds of things that are important to me.

I like to travel, go on adventures, and do activities. So, the best gift someone can get me is something to do, and to do it with me. The best Christmas gifts I have are the memories I have of all of my friends and family around during the holidays. From parties, to cleanups and games, to even the unforgettable stories we tell every year about our Christmases together. Those, to me, are more important than a new phone or a purse.

I am not saying that gifts are a bad thing. Many people enjoy getting gifts on Christmas, and many people enjoy giving presents as well. For me, presents are nice, especially if there was thought put into it. However, I don’t want someone to go out of their way to find one or two objects that I may or may not like just to make me happy. I am picky! I like to pick things out myself. I’m also honest to a fault. If I don’t like the gift, I can’t cover up how much I don’t like it to spare your feelings. Just ask Grandma.

With all this being said, if you do decide to give me a gift, I would really like some socks. I keep losing mine and I don’t know where they keep going.

Oh, and another thing! If you buy me a gift, I am probably not going to give you one. I am very broke.

Happy Holidays!