There are only a handful of Christmas cards on the mantal this year. For the most part they are from local businesses who want us to know that our patronage is appreciated. What happened to colorful messages from friends and family?
It is sad that people no longer send Christmas cards. They use the price of postage as an excuse, but it is more than that, isn’t it? People just don’t want to bother anymore.
In the past the receipt of a card, especially those with letters, was the highlight of a festive season, an assurance that friends and family were thinking of us.
The Christmas card was a tradition that everyone enjoyed. It started to change when rubber stamped signatures and printed form letters began to replace personalized messages, now it is nothing at all.
A card without a message really is a waste of postage, isn’t it? When did we stop writing letters? Letter writing, a pursuit that does not require anything from you but a few minutes of your time, has become outdated.
Etiquette experts who told us that we had to have the perfect card, and the perfect stationery, may have contributed. The emphasis became more on the rules than on the message.
No one will complain if arthritis has made your scrawl difficult to decipher. Print, type, or even record your messages. Do whatever it takes to convey a message of caring and love. Know in your heart that your attempts will always be welcomed. This is what Christmas is all about, isn’t it?
We are surrounded by technology, the internet, cell phones, text messaging and computers, but nothing can beat an old-fashioned card and letter. You do not need expensive cards or embossed paper. When it comes right down to it, a note written on ruled notebook paper or a paper napkin can have the same impact.
Do it this year. Write to everyone. Christmas cards and letters are a wonderful way to stay connected with distant relatives or others you rarely get to see any more.
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