The Story of How Toys Changed my Gift Purchasing Experience

I’ve always considered the purchase of gifts a daunting task. I know it might sound strange to some but I couldn’t bare the disappointment look a person who doesn’t like what I bought especially for them gives me and yet tries so hard to hide it.

I used to think it would be easier for me if I knew the person well to be able to choose the perfect gift, until I had to buy one for my minimalist cousin.

No matter how hard you try, minimalists would always surprise you with their intention and preaching as to why they don’t really need the gift, so while thinking on giving up on her birthday altogether I came across horse figurines toys that changed my mind and purchasing experience forever.

One is never too old for toys when one is passionate about something, and my cousin has been in love with horses for as long as I can remember. There was the risk she would say she doesn’t need the horse toys, but it was a risk I was willing to take and much to my pleasant surprise, it happened to be one that paid off.

She cherished the horse figurines toys so dearly, remembering all her childhood memories of when she first started riding, which brought more memories of us together, and a lot of laughs, so it was this birthday in particular that restored my courage in purchasing gifts.

What started from the toys quickly turned to all-things horses, and I didn’t need an occasion to treat her with some horse-related item since then.

Now she’s a minimalist who proudly has a collection of embroidered handbags, wallets, mugs, key chains, jewellery (necklaces, rings, and bracelets), and glasses all with the horse motifs. I’m looking for more items to enlarge her collection with, currently considering a shirt and scarf with the same motif which I’m sure she’s going to love wearing.

The lesson I learned was that every minimalist has a soft spot so they aren’t as against gifts as they say they are, and it’s up to you to find out what it is and solve your gift problems. The lesson she learned was that she actually had a soft spot allowing her to make an exception and even consider collecting.

I don’t know what’s going to happen when I run out of options to buy her, I guess I might even resort to my DIY skills and enrich her world with some of my own horse arts and crafts, but what I know for sure is I don’t dread the gifts experience anymore.