According to Emerson, a gift is not an acceptable gift unless it is handcrafted as a representation of yourself and your talents. A personal gift that reflects the relationship between the gift-giver and the gift-receiver, whether it is thought out or spontaneous, is the best type of gift. Some of my favorite gifts that I have received or given were just small objects, but it was the fact that the person was thinking of me specifically when they bought/created it. 
For example, as anyone who is my close friend knows, I have been complaining FOREVER about not having a car. I have one now :) but that's another story. Anyway, one of my best friends was at Powell's candy store and she bought me a miniature, tiny, sponge-type thing that was in the shape of a car. The package said: "Be the envy of your friends with this Grow Your Own Sports Car! Simply place in water and within 2 hours it will start to grow reaching up to 600% its original size. Just look at the features; Never runs out of gas, No speed limit, No repair bills, Environmentally friendly, Won't dent or scratch." Although it was small, it really made my day and made me feel incredibly loved! I think that this is one of the best types of gifts: when someone is out and about and they see something that makes them think of you and they get it for you! One of my favorite gifts that I've ever given someone was a personalized scrapbook. I put a ton of time and effort into it, and I think it really showed that person how much they meant to me. When gifts are thoughtful, I believe that they really show the strength of a relationship.
For example, as anyone who is my close friend knows, I have been complaining FOREVER about not having a car. I have one now :) but that's another story. Anyway, one of my best friends was at Powell's candy store and she bought me a miniature, tiny, sponge-type thing that was in the shape of a car. The package said: "Be the envy of your friends with this Grow Your Own Sports Car! Simply place in water and within 2 hours it will start to grow reaching up to 600% its original size. Just look at the features; Never runs out of gas, No speed limit, No repair bills, Environmentally friendly, Won't dent or scratch." Although it was small, it really made my day and made me feel incredibly loved! I think that this is one of the best types of gifts: when someone is out and about and they see something that makes them think of you and they get it for you! One of my favorite gifts that I've ever given someone was a personalized scrapbook. I put a ton of time and effort into it, and I think it really showed that person how much they meant to me. When gifts are thoughtful, I believe that they really show the strength of a relationship.Emerson also comments that to receive a gift well, one must neither be excited nor disappointed. Most people would agree that you should never show disappointment in a gift, but Emerson adds that you shouldn't be overexcited either, because that means that you love the gift as a material object, instead of being appreciative of the giver. I'm not sure if I entirely agree with this statement, as I feel very appreciated when I give a gift and someone gets excited over it. I would much rather have them jump up and down in excitement than have a mild reaction.
Emerson also offers an abundant supply of social commentary and societal criticism as well. He criticizes those who give what is needed, for necessity creates an easy gifting opportunity that causes a gift to be given in almost a selfish way, because of the great satisfaction that the giver feels. Emerson also states "We ask the whole. Nothing less will content us. We arraign society if it does not give us, besides earth, and fire, and water, opportunity, love, reverence, and objects of veneration." He is saying that, as a society, we believe that everything should be provided to us. We become upset when we are left out when the hands of fate deal out good fortune. We believe we deserve to have everything. Yet, at the same time, we have an innate desire to be self-sustaining and independent. This leaves us at a conflict, and the only way to solve this is through justification of our receiving: we can receive anything from love. And indeed, love is the ultimate gift, the ultimate sign of devotion and sacrifice, and the ultimate giving of oneself.
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