Books And Gifts

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Growing up, I wasn’t used to receiving gifts. I have always loved the art of gifting, but I realized I was more on the giving end than the reviving end. Still, I was okay with it. I remember during my high school days, I would save a certain percentage of my “pocket money” just so I would be able to buy gifts for my friends on their birthdays. My memories are hazy and I don’t remember how much my parents gave me to school during my high school days, but I always made sure I saved at least 20% of it every day. Soon enough, it became a habit.

On my birthday this year, I decided to change the narrative. I thought to myself, “I have been giving people gifts all my life, but I have never given myself a gift.” It was not as if I thought less of myself or I didn’t deserve the best gifts in the world, I just never thought of it. The idea of buying a gift for myself just never crossed my mind. But few months ago, I decided to change that narrative. I am not the kind of person that likes the idea of celebrating birthdays, but I thought to make it special by buying myself something nice.

I spent days thinking about what to buy. “What is special to me? What are the things that make me happy?” The first thing that crossed my mind was a chess board. Sometime last year, I got a chessboard, and I didn’t see the need to get another one. What’s the point of having two chessboards? So, I crossed a chessboard out of my list. Suddenly, my eureka moment struck! Books! I enjoy buying books. I enjoy buying expensive and thick-covered books. So, I decided to buy books for myself on my birthday. I was caught between a strong dilemma; whether to buy African books or to buy foreign books. It was when I got to the bookstore that I decided to get foreign books.

When I got to the bookstore, I bought and paid for 3 books. I interacted well with the store owner and helped me decide what books to pick. Just when I walked out of the store, I saw that the store owner gave me four books instead of three. I had already walked past a lot of blocks, but I knew I had to go back. My parents trained me well, and I’m sure they’d be proud if they saw what I did. When I got back to the store and told the store owner that she packed 4 books, instead of 3, she was surprised and happy. I brought out the book and handed it over to her. At firs she collected the book, but just when I was about to leave the store, she called me back and told me she has a little gift for me.

With a huge smile on her face, she told me to pick any book I want for free. The interesting thing is that she didn’t even know it was my birthday. I picked the book that she initially mispacked. Although I have not read it yet, I’m hoping to read and review it soon. Looking back, that book was one of the best gifts I have gotten so far.

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