Each time I say this, I get gasps and shocked looks, but I simply can't help it. I do not like Christmas. Christmas time is just a time for kind people to waste their efforts on people who take, take, take, and do not give back.
Recently, I picked up the hobby of sewing sock animals, such as sock monkeys, and decided that this Christmas I would sew a sock animal for each one of my friends. I spent $30 on various colored socks, making sure to get each persons' favorite color, and planned to sew their favorite animals, which would take nearly all of my free time for the month of December. I started with a sock pig for my mom, since we have to mail her gifts to Florida early so that they will be there by Christmas.
I approached my friends excitedly the next school day, and told them all that I was making them each a gift.
"Ugh, don't get me something. I don't want to have to waste my time finding a gift to give back to you."
This broke my heart. I had spent my time and money on them, and they spat it back into my face. I do not expect to get presents for them, I just wanted to do something nice for them. I don't care about receiving, it's the giving that I love. They took all the excitement I have gathered for the holiday season and broke it. They didn't thank me, or appreciate my kindness in any way.
"Yeah, sure, you can make them if you want, but I'm not gonna get you anything."
You can not take from me, and not show gratitude in return. Even a homemade card would suffice. Or a thank you, or a "cool!"
But instead I got nothing.
Christmas is a spirit-crushing, heart-breaking time of year, where you watch those you love spread their joy to everyone and save none for you. Christmas is a money-wasting, pointless holiday, that I honestly wish I could just skip.
I'm sorry they treated you that way. If you made a sock animal for me, I would be very grateful. They should all feel special that you care about them so much that you're willing to make something by your own hands rather than simply buying something. They are blind to not see what a good friend you are for thinking of them. I hope you can find some good in Christmas despite that. (And if your thinking of making me one, I am happy with whatever you give me. As the saying goes, "It's the thought that counts." And the sheer fact that you are hand making these things, for the pleasure of giving, says a lot about your thoughts. A good a lot.)
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