We all need some extra love during the holidays and, this year more than ever, a small gesture (like handwritten Christmas cards) could mean a lot to someone you care about.
Christmas is around the corner and, even though the holiday season is always an incredibly emotional one, I have the feeling that this year we are all going to be especially soppy. I know I am.
The pandemic has taken away from us the things that keep our souls alive in regular times: our freedom, social interactions and the possibility of seeing (and hugging) the people we love the most.
It has been challenging – and it still is – but this new, weird way of living our lives gave us a big lesson in gratitude and resilience. I’d like to think that, once this will eventually be over, we are going to get out of it a bit bruised but a lot stronger in spirit.
I’m not usually a very emotional type. By this, I mean that I am very emotional, but I do anything in my power to hide it. Honestly, I do a pretty good job at it, but it’s also the stupidest thing I could do. I don’t like the idea of being vulnerable because in our society vulnerability and emotions are linked to weakness and instability. I think I only fully acknowledged this during the last months, and I feel so much better for it.
As I said, Christmas is an extra-emotional season for everyone – in both a good and a bad way. In previous years, I would have joyfully avoided any kind of heart-wrecking Christmas activities, yet this year I have decided to fully embrace the Christmas spirit – the real Christmas spirit.
For most people in the UK, Christmas cards are just a habit. Something they have been doing for their whole life and they don’t even think about. The greeting card industry makes £2 billion every year in Britain and getting a card for your birthday or Christmas is not that special when you live in the UK.
I am not British and at first, I found the whole card thing a bit outdated and very much like a waste of time, money and resources. I felt pressured into joining in the card habit and, honestly, I kept on forgetting to buy them or to send them, and I wasn’t paying much attention to what went into them anyway and I know I am not the only one.
Out of everyone that sends cards, not many write a heartfelt message or even personalise the card at all. Some people just send a card with a signature in it. It might look like a nice thing to do but that’s not a thoughtful gesture, that’s just useless waste.
For Christmas 2020, I have decided to pour my heart and energy on handwritten Christmas cards, and I think you should give it a try as well.
Embrace the slow process
Even during lockdown, we are always so busy that we rarely concentrate our efforts on one single task at a time. Writing heartfelt, handwritten Christmas cards to people you love will take time (and sometimes courage), so you must embrace the slow process of putting your thoughts and your feelings on paper. Don’t shy away from it because of pride or shyness. There is nothing awkward or silly about telling people you care about them and making them feel loved. You’ll see that writing your feelings for them down will make you feel closer to them and will give you a new sense of peace and gratitude.
What should you write?
There are no rules on what you should or shouldn’t write on a card, but you should write something. Opening a card to find a black page or a very basic message is worse than not getting the card at all. You can even write only one sentence, but if that sentence is personal and thoughtful, it will have the same effect as if you wrote a full page.
Who should you write to?
Literally anyone you love or care about. Your family, the friends that you couldn’t see during lockdown, that person you think about a lot but rarely talk to, your favourite colleagues or someone that helped you without even noticing they were doing it. If a person comes into your mind while thinking about sending Christmas cards, it probably means that your brain thinks that they should be on your list.
What kind of cards should I send out?
Let’s not shy away from the truth; cards are pretty wasteful. Sending an electronic card or an email would be better for the environment, but it doesn’t have the same heart-warming impact on the person that receives it. To still be mindful of the environment when sending physical cards, make sure to buy them from small, sustainable and ethical businesses. Doing so you will also help a small business thrive and that’s an amazing Christmas gift for a small business owner.
Photo credit: Ivan Samkov
