Are You Bad at Giving Presents?
Here’s how to give and receive the best gifts
For years, my husband (now ex-husband) gave me fancy necklaces, expensive earrings, and pretty rings. I remember his expectant face as he watched me unwrap the presents. I knew he wanted me to love what he was giving me.
But, as soon as he presented me with the boxes, my stomach tightened and I felt a familiar wave of anxiety. I know it’s not the present itself that is important, it’s the thought behind it that counts.
And that’s exactly the problem. I don’t wear jewelry. I don’t like the way it feels against my skin. On other people, it looks gorgeous. On me, it feels scratchy and I want to remove it as quickly as possible.
And, after 10 years of marriage, I thought my husband should know me well enough to know that jewelry wasn’t the right gift for me.
The only “jewelry” that I wore was my wedding ring. Ironically, he said he didn’t want to wear his wedding ring because it felt uncomfortable.
When my wedding ring was stolen by movers during our transition to California, I was heartbroken. This became the one piece of jewelry that I hoped he would buy for me. But, he never did. And I never asked him because I thought he should know.
