Permission Slip to Yourself: Holiday Edition

Here’s a gift to you: a permission slip.

You have permission to let go of gifts that don’t spark joy.

Once the gift is yours, the person who gave it no longer has responsibility for it. It’s your responsibility now. You can use it, decide where and how to store it or...let it go. The purpose of the gift is to convey a feeling from the gift giver to you. Maybe that’s all it was meant to do. And that’s ok.

But my (insert loved one) gave it to me, and I don’t want to hurt their feelings.

You don’t have to hang on to the item to protect their feelings. You can graciously accept the gift, and then decide what to do with it. One good thing about this year is that gifts given from afar can be managed with less guilt. Let them go immediately if you feel like it. We can let this holiday season transform our habits.

Flip the perspective. How would you feel if you knew someone was holding onto a gift that you gave them only to protect your feelings? They moved it from room to room, closet to garage, a reminder that you got them something that they don’t love/need/want. Please don’t do that to protect my feelings if I give you a gift that doesn’t spark joy. Let go of it immediately. Marie Kondo encouraged readers to let go of her book if it no longer sparked joy. People can handle it. And if they can’t? Well, it’s about more than the gift…Holding onto that gift won’t help.

I should try to get some use out of it first. I’ll keep for (insert a number of weeks/months/years) and then I’ll let go of it.

If you have already made a decision about an item, support yourself and your decision making abilities. You know. You know you know. It’s ok to know. If you really want to give it a try for a certain amount of time, support that decision by making a note in your calendar to act on the decision in whatever timeframe you choose. This is work for your future self.

Maybe it will grow on me.

See above. If you do decide to keep it and try it, keep it with confidence. You decided to give it a chance and that’s ok. It’s also ok to change your mind at any time.

I already have this exact item or something similar to it, so…I’ll keep this duplicate “just in case.”

Consider “just in case” the same way you’d consider running a red light. It might be fine, but…You might be pressing your luck. Keeping one item “just in case” can turn into a room full of “just in case.” Thank the gift giver, and let go of the fourth brown sweater they’ve given you.

OK, I’ll let go of it as soon as I find the perfect place to sell/donate it or the perfect person to give it to.

If it sparks joy for you to do that, do it as quickly as possible. If you have a closet/room/garage full of piles waiting for the perfect next home, maybe the items would rather be used by someone, anyone, vs. no one. Goodwill locations are taking drive through donations, and items can sell quickly online.

Let’s let this year reset our holiday habits. What if we drop the gift guilt? Try it, and see how it feels. We have done hard things this year…What’s one more thing?