Christmas gifts

I agree that Secret Santa is a good idea and we do some variation of it every year agency wide. What happened in this case, though, is that 2 members of a smaller team, decided to buy gifts. Now, people certainly have every right to give gifts to whomever they please. However, one of the team members was of the impression "we're exchanging with each other". We never agreed on that, or even discussed it! And yet, I'll feel bad if I don't participate. I do understand that how I chose to react is my own decision, but I have difficulty believing that I'm the only one who feels this way.

On the plus side, we decided that next year we are going to sponsor a family. I like doing that much more. Earlier this week, an insurance company called looking for a family of a child with a disability that they could sponsor. The mother of the family I suggested called to thank me yesterday and she was nearly in tears. Just having that small part in making a special Christmas for someone who needs the help felt much more like the spirit of Christmas than endless gift exchanges do.