when you receive a gift, like say a birthday present, would you pay for it?obviously right? so isn't it kind of an idiosyncrasy for departmental stores with signs that scream "free gifts" everywhere? cos obviously a gift is free. haha, but still it's amazing how the word "free" that precedes "gift" make all that difference. for me at least --i think i've fallen for it a million times over already.
there's always a catch though, queues that i have to stand in, perspiring enough to fill up pacific ocean( ok an exaggeration but not far off from the truth), certain minimum amount of cash i need to dish out for something useless( but still managing to convince myself that i will buy it anyway so might as well buy it when there's an additional free gift bonus) etc etc.
then when i finally get that free gift i will feel all smug, thinking that im one of the few geniuses who managed to snap up such a bargain.

but guess the world got it all wrong. a gift is free. (and according to dictionary.com free means provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment)

so what's up with all of us falling for the same ploy over and over again working to get a gift, hoping to deserve it? (and im not just referring to gifts in shopping centers but stuff like friends' approval, "good-result" presents etc)

cos we never will. a gift was never meant to be paid for in anyway.

so either we have all lost our rational marbles or just delusional cos we are all in need of some form of gift to assure us that we are important and of value.

it can be quite depressing to see how helpless man is underneath.