"Dozens of women who considered me their gay best friend sounded great until it was time to exchange presents with all of them during the holidays. I was too cheap to buy all my friends expensive Christmas gifts but too classy to give them something, well, cheap. I had also grown tired of spending $50 on something pointless in bulk, usually a criminally overpriced novelty item."
"That first time, I made about 100 empanadas in five flavors and 100 chocolate-covered strawberries. Still, I thought of it as a labor of love. There was nothing quite like the rush of concocting a culinary feast from scratch, the dopamine hit I got from each beloved guest I bear hugged hello, and the humble joy of my speech. But most of all, I loved introducing strangers, watching them banter, and then exchanging socials - like little seeds that could grow into anything and everything."
I considered my many close friends a blessing until December gift exchanges proved unaffordable. Dozens of women expecting presents created financial strain and frustration with overpriced novelty gifts. I replaced holiday presents with a hosted dinner party, preparing about 100 empanadas in five flavors and 100 chocolate-covered strawberries. The work of prepping and hosting felt like a labor of love that delivered hugs, speeches, and the joy of introducing people who then connected socially. The total cost matched buying gifts but resulted in more satisfying thank-yous. The dinner party became an annual tradition and preferred way to give through acts of service.
Read at Business Insider
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