| The holidays are a time to not only enjoy friends | | | | postage. |
| and family close to us, but also to remember | | | | I certainly don't mean to sound like Scrooge or |
| those who are maybe not so close, whether that | | | | some kind of curmudgeon... I'm trying to be the |
| be due to physical or emotional distances. Holiday | | | | complete opposite in fact. What I hope to do is to |
| greeting cards are a tradition that allow us to | | | | encourage people to spend just a little bit of time |
| easily have 'a reason' to reach out to those that | | | | THINKING about the people in their lives that they |
| might otherwise get forgotten in the hectic pace | | | | want to keep in touch with; the people that they |
| of today's busy lives. It's a wonderful tradition and | | | | are sending holiday cards to. Think of them and |
| a beautiful gesture to send out Christmas cards, | | | | write something personal to them so that they |
| Hanuka cards, Kwanzaa or New Years cards, or | | | | see you really ARE thinking of them. It doesn't |
| even simply "Season's Greetings" when you don't | | | | take long. If these really are important people in |
| want to affiliate with any one particular | | | | your life, you must have something to say to |
| celebration. It's still OK to simply 'celebrate' a time | | | | them, don't you? Even if it is simply telling them |
| when we all should be spreading peace, love and | | | | that you were thinking of them recently because |
| joy. | | | | ____. Fill in the blank with some experience you |
| And because these times are meant to share | | | | shared with them. I promise you it will mean a |
| love, appreciation and joy, it can be incredibly | | | | whole lot more to them than simply seeing your |
| frustrating to see so many cards go out into the | | | | autograph, knowing that it is one of so many and |
| mail, to 'loved ones', with so little thought or | | | | you didn't even know that THAT particular card |
| energy put into them. People seem to think that | | | | was going to them. It was just one of a bunch. |
| simply buying a card, signing their name on the | | | | It makes perfect sense to me that when you |
| bottom underneath where the card company | | | | need to keep in touch with a lot of people, you |
| printed "Happy Holidays!", and then doing a | | | | might want to include some kind of form letter to |
| mail-merge on your computer to your complete | | | | keep them updated on what's been going on with |
| address book list, is somehow showing people | | | | you and your family. I think that's fine and nice if |
| how much they care. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. | | | | you put some time into it. But take 30 seconds |
| And if I am on your list and that is how you're | | | | and add a little extra personal note. |
| going to show me you care?... save yourself the | | | | |