sixtyandme logo
We are community supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Learn more

Why Are Women Over 60 More Comfortable Giving Gifts than Receiving them?

By Margaret Manning December 18, 2014 Mindset

Gift giving is a true art – one that most women over 60 have perfected over the years. We have bought gifts for our children, husbands, friends, teachers, nurses, mailmen, and even the neighbor’s dog.

We like to thank people, because we know what it means to be appreciated. We understand that the value of a gift is not measured by what it costs, but in the planning and thoughtfulness that went into the purchase. You know that old phrase.

Unfortunately, we are not always as good at receiving gifts as we are at giving them. If you ask most women over 60 what present they would like for their birthday, retirement or Christmas, the answer is almost always “Oh, you don’t have to buy me a gift. I don’t need anything.”

We are even worse at buying gifts for ourselves, even when we know that they will make a positive difference in our lives.

On a purely practical level, I can understand this. After 60 years on this planet, most of us just don’t want more “stuff” around the house. But in our heart of hearts, we do love to receive a gift – either to enjoy an experience or to be reassured that we are loved and valued.

The gifts that have had the most meaning in my life are the ones that indicated a real level of connection and love. It was something I either needed very much or wanted with all my heart. After all, gift giving is ultimately all about connection between the receiver and giver.

So, to encourage you to do something nice for yourself, I’d like to offer you something special as we approach the end of the year.

For a limited time, you can get 50% off of our gentle yoga and chair yoga videos. Just click on the links for all of the details.

What was the one gift that someone gave you that had the most meaning? What is the best gift that you have ever bought yourself? Why do you think it is that women over 60 are more comfortable giving gifts than receiving them?

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

32 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

The Author

Margaret Manning is the founder of Sixty and Me. She is an entrepreneur, author and speaker. Margaret is passionate about building dynamic and engaged communities that improve lives and change perceptions. Margaret can be contacted at margaret@sixtyandme.com

You Might Also Like