I'd rather not receive gifts from people I'm not particularly close to (co-workers, neighbors, extended family members, etc.) because I feel that what they're actually giving me is an obligation to return a gift or favor, or perhaps a pass of some sort. The idea of "owing one" to people I don't particularly like or feel indifferent towards is irksome to me, so my tendency is to politely decline such gestures.
If refusing a gift isn't possible or prudent, I will return a gift or favor of some sort posthaste in order to settle my perceived "debt" to them quickly.
Bam...we're square.
That way, I don't feel bad when they begin casually hinting that they need someone to walk their yapping dogs when they go out of town, to switch shifts with them and pick up an overnight or two, or somebody to drop them off at the airport by 4am in the middle of a work week.
If I know a person to be truly sincere and/or appreciative that's different, of course. But not everyone who bestows sudden gifts is motivated by mere thoughtfulness.
Often enough, they're just priming the pump.
If refusing a gift isn't possible or prudent, I will return a gift or favor of some sort posthaste in order to settle my perceived "debt" to them quickly.
Bam...we're square.
That way, I don't feel bad when they begin casually hinting that they need someone to walk their yapping dogs when they go out of town, to switch shifts with them and pick up an overnight or two, or somebody to drop them off at the airport by 4am in the middle of a work week.
If I know a person to be truly sincere and/or appreciative that's different, of course. But not everyone who bestows sudden gifts is motivated by mere thoughtfulness.
Often enough, they're just priming the pump.
