You know it is coming, you know it has to come, but you just don't want to face it. Like waking up from a bad nightmare, you just want to pull the covers up and stay in bed for just a bit longer.

For many people, Christmas is a dreaded time of year. A dreaded time that comes around each year. It's not the season of Christmas itself that is dreaded - it's all that Christmas shopping and Christmas preparations leading up to the festive holidays that most people hate.

It is something we have to do each year. It is something most of us dread. It is an activity that's lined with landmines and mishaps. And littered with past Christmas gift-giving blunders that everyone remembers and brings up each year. Without fail.

Finding the perfect gift for everyone each year is a very stressful job. A very stressful job that comes with a countdown clock that kicks into gear around the end of October.

All of us, at one time or other, have fretted and fussed over just what to get a family member, a co-worker, a boss, or a loved one. How to please someone with the right gift, the perfect gift?

We have all been there, done that!

Unfortunately, we have to keep doing it each year, over and over again. Whose idea was that?

Perhaps, the solution to all our gift-giving worries and stresses can be found in one simple way. You have to get Personal!

Actually, it should come as no surprise to anyone, the more personal a gift is, the more it will be appreciated. The more unique a gift is, the more it will be remembered.

Some of our most cherished gifts are those that have been made for us personally by the givers. A homemade Mother's day card from your son or daughter, lovers' initials carved near a favorite meeting place, a handmade gift from a cherished uncle or aunt... and the list goes on.

Gifts that have a personal touch mean the most to us. Gifts made especially for us always have special meanings and feelings that go well beyond the object itself. They take on a whole new life in themselves. They mean much more to us than just a plastic toy straight out of the box. Much more.

So this Christmas, keep this idea in mind when you're getting stressed with all your gift-buying duties, always go for the personal. If you can make your own gifts for the people you appreciate the most; do it. It is a gift that will truly be appreciated and cherished.

Always keep the gift personal to the receiver. Cater to their special interests, hobbies or favorite past-times. Cater to their fantasies, dreams or life-long ambitions.

Many times it is just impractical to make our own gifts but you can still keep it personal. There are many gifts that can be personalized, engraved or especially ordered and made to your specifications. Check out the craft-persons in your local area, check out local artists for a special portrait or painting of your favorite place, if you buy jewelry always have it engraved with a personal saying.

Don't forget, these days almost anything can be personalized with laser engraving. From iPods to fine crystal, you name it and it can probably be engraved.

Personalizing any gift whether if be Christmas Gifts, Birthday Gifts, Corporate Gifts, Wedding Gifts... you name it, any gift that is personalized in some way will be a much more appreciated gift.

Just remember, as that gift giving countdown clock keeps ticking, solve all your gift giving worries by taking the personal route. Personalize all your gifts for that added extra punch and make all your gifts truly special.

Personalized unique gifts go that extra step; so when in doubt, just make it personal.

Copyright (c) 2006 Titus Hoskins