Shops, Television Commercials, Newspapers, are all loudly reminding everyone everywhere that Christmas is approaching at a rapid pace & everyone must panic, everyone must shop frantically, spend too much money, and buy too much food.
Then the Christmas cards. Do not forget the Christmas cards. Make sure no-one is forgotten.
Spend time grudgingly scribbling little notes on cards to give to people you see everyday and with whom you can and surely will verbally exchange Christmas Greetings.
Still, the Christmas card must be sent.
Oh Yes, send it early so that if they had no intention of sending one to you (because they see you every day )they will have enough time to reciprocate and thus feel no embarrassment on receipt of your card.
Ask your friends do they enjoy sending Christmas cards and the majority will say “No.” Sure, it is refreshing and uplifting to receive a card from a friend who is living on another planet or at least overseas.
Someone who may have a bit of interesting news to share with you but to give a card to say, the lady next door whom you see everyday, or a colleague at work with whom you will most definitely be sharing a Christmas drink even if it is only at the office Christmas party well I ask you, isn’t that really quite ridiculous .What is even more ridiculous is when a friend or acquaintance hands you a Christmas card and you dive into your bag (having found a hiding place first) find a card & a pen, madly scribble “to so and so, “on it and then casually walk up to the giver of the card and say “Oh I almost forgot, here is your card.”
It all becomes so hysterically funny but worse than that it is all so insincere.
Christmas is a time to reflect, to think of others, those who have crossed our paths even fleetingly but in some way have enhanced our lives.
A sincere show of appreciation to someone who has really assisted us in some way big or small at some time during the year, a meaningful “Thank You and Happy Christmas. “will be received with joy ( & probably surprise) and remembered for much longer than a hurried note scribbled on the obligatory Christmas Card .
So let us forget the Christmas Cards and make an effort to actually tell those around us that we appreciate their loyalty, love and friendship and sincerely wish them a very Happy Christmas .
