People who plan surprises tend to enjoy it more than the recipient!

I’ve seen many surprises go wrong over the years, with the recipient putting up a brave face and a phoney smile, just to avoid appearing ungrateful!

Personally, if I want to do something nice for someone, I choose to do it with them, rather than to them! Yes, boring and perhaps lacking that 5 second magic when (if the recipient isn’t pretending) the recipient beams with pleasure. I simply find it tiresome. Firstly, the recipients of our surprises tend to know it’s coming (and oftentimes have to pretend they don’t) – I mean, if you have given someone a surprise anniversary or birthday present for 40 years, would you stop now? – so, yes, they already expect it. Secondly, they miss out on the fun of getting the supposed surprise in place, fun that is sometimes even better than the eventual surprise. To cap it all, if it turns out to be something they’re actually not so keen on (or have received 6 of the same!), they still then have to smile and play along! Jeez!!
So, essentially the person(s) planning the surprise have all the fun and at the end, also exact gratitude and praise for putting the surprise in place!

However, different stroke for different folk as they say. I stick to my no-surprise approach and leave those who enjoy the surprise fantasy life to carry on with theirs. All good…