In the last few weeks, I have been asked at least twenty times what I want for Christmas, by friends and family. My answer is always something like I don't want anything, don't get me anything, or something similar. My friends always get frustrated and confused and think that I am kidding. I'm not. There are two reasons that I always respond this way to gift idea inquiries.

The first is that I do not like asking people for gifts. I’ve never liked doing it. I had a huge family growing up. There were nine children, including myself, and then my mother and father. That's a lot of gifts that need to be bought at Christmas time, and it's a lot of birthdays throughout the year. My family wasn’t rich, and so I didn't like the idea of asking them to spend money on me, even though they were offering. I realize now that if they didn't have the money they wouldn't, but I still never liked the idea of asking to waste money on me.

The second reason is the reason that I am writing this. I do not like when people get someone gifts because they feel an obligation. Every Christmas, Valentine's Day, and friends birthday, my friends’ boyfriends and girlfriends will be asking around what they should get for their significant other for the occasion. They stress out over it and worry and get concerned. One year I hadn't realized what day it was and I asked my friend’s boyfriend why and his response was, and I quote, “it’s Valentine’s Day, I’ve got to get her something.” That's not how this is supposed to work in my opinion, and you aren’t supposed just to buy someone a gift because you feel an obligation. If you get someone something it should because you want to, not because you think you have to. The same goes for receiving gifts. You shouldn't think, just because it's a holiday or your birthday, that someone is supposed to buy you something it takes the meaning out of it. I don't expect anyone to buy me anything and if they don't, I am fine with that.

I have no problems receiving gifts. I’m not an ungrateful person. I am always super grateful. I just think that it should be because the person genuinely wants to get you something. It means a lot more, and I feel a lot better about it.

So because of that here is what I don’t want during the holiday season:

- gifts of obligation

But more than anything here is what I do want:

- For friends and family to have a Merry Christmas

- To spend time with the people I love and care about

- Everyone to have safe travels

Happy holidays everyone