Please go to:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1463340938/bctid1786874697 to see the clip of their emotional reactions!
Talk about extreme extravagant gifts.
Contrary to the saying "It's the the thought that counts" I find that people tend to focus on the price or the size of the gift and often forget the excruciating effort and thought process the giver has to go through in order to prepare the "perfect gift" for their loved ones.
I have to admit that when I was a kid and what I looked out for when opening my birthday presents, was the size of the gift. Like most kids, I had the preconceived misconception that "bigger is better". However, on my 8th birthday, I became wiser.
When my aunt pressed this small box into my hands, you can only imagine my dismay! I wanted a big box! As big boxes usually translated to large objects like a bicycle or roller blades for example. But lo and behold when I unwrapped the package, I found to my surprise, a really pretty necklace. Etched on the pendant, was a little bear reading a book. I was extremely delighted and gave my aunt my little version of a bear hug. She kept in mind that I was(still am) a bookworm and went to the trouble to find something that she thought I would love.
After that incident, my perception has completely changed and now, I am a firm believer that good things come in small packages!
Through my personal experience, I have shown an example of how easy it is for messages to be interpreted wrongly as well as the various tricky interpretations due to our individual characteristics and past experiences (for instance, I interpreted big presents to things of large physical value to be more expensive and thus better) .
You see, I feel that although what Glen Fritzler did for his parents was indeed creative and no less extravagant, I believe his parents were touched not just due to the fact that their faces grace their corn maze, but the message of his love and appreciation for his parents communicated through his act of going to the trouble and effort to make his love shown-literally.
By first having to do research on professional maze designers, choosing an appropriate one, planning the time, coming up with a hefty sum to having to keep the lid on his surprise by not telling his sister must have taken much self control. If it were me, I think i would have to try extremely hard to contain my excitement and not burst telling everyone!
Hence, this is yet another form of successful non-verbal communication.
"They sure did pull the wool over their folk's eyes, what a corn job".
What do you think? (:
4 comments:
Lol, good things, little packages.... Nah!
Indeed, look at our dear Charis, a living proof that good things come in small packages. She writes superbly, plays the piano beautifully, loves most tenderly and is our MVP on the battlefield of paintballs!
well charis.... i think you have the potential to be a good narrater, or do an autobiography of yourself. and no i'm not kidding because i'll will be the first one to read it! but you'll have to send me a free copy.. (haha cheapskate i know)
=)
hmmm.... another saying : "it's the thought that counts."
and i feel that we should never ever discount that because it is a fact. the thought that someone gives us something is immediately etched on to our minds.
you can't dismiss it; i can't do it either. especially if it comes from your sweetheart, your parents and other love ones.
giving is something that i've always done. i feel that giving is true happiness. actually it's a form of communication as well, a signal, an act of doing something that makes people smile.
'Give and Take"
my take on that?
i'll give and take a smile.
ps: i'll comment on ur essay again! you make me laugh haha thanks!
Nicely written.
I agree with you that people tend to overlook the "story behind the gift" but hey, first impressions do count man. Maybe today we've become too materialistic and look at the monetary value of the gifts we receive, perhaps even the brand plays a part too. On the note, i'd like to point out that some people tend to replace the "thought process" and "effort" with higher monetary value. thats prob why we usually end up with redpackets or watches or clothes nowadays, they're really common and easy to get. Point is, although these people are judged lazy, or perhaps they are REALLY busy, they bother to even buy something for you - be it your birthday or even a present to congratulate you, it shows you're remembered.
Hahaha, bigger the better? good things come in small packages? I believe that gifts are subjective. Like they say, one man's meat, another man's poison or smth like that lol. Sure some good stuffs come in small packages *diamond rings ...etc....* heh, but how about houses? or cars? or a REAAALLLY big red packet? I feel that whether or not you like the gift, or whether or not it even has MEANING to you differs from everyone. Be it big or small, expensive or cheap.
Neeeway, good job on bringing up the "its the thought that counts". Kuddos to the corn guy.
Brain rusty, have not written in almost a year. Ciao.=)
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