The holiday season is rapidly approaching and like you, I love every minute of it. The very nicest tradition of all is the exchange of Christmas letters. You will notice that I said letter, not just cards and nothing electronic.
Electronic cards and phone conversations have become norm, but there is nothing as satisfying as the written word. There are some folks that I only hear from once or twice a year, but oh how I look forward to this opportunity to catch up. A handwritten note isn’t just something that you read once and delete.
We have a lot of excuses for not writing any more. We are too busy, or we think our lives are too boring or our handwriting isn’t legible enough, but is that reason enough to stop keeping in touch? The written word touches the heart in a way that no other form of communication can do. Please don’t just send a card this year. If that is all you can muster up, you might as well save the stamp and save the tree.
Make Christmas a time to renew acquaintances (much more personal than Face Book) and write a note from the heart. Sometimes I succumb to typing because of tendonitis in my thumbs, but even if you do that (using a cursive font of course) try to add a line or two at the bottom in your very own handwriting. Typing is a bit easier on the thumbs but I miss sitting down with a clean piece of paper and a pencil.
Gone are the days when people wrote emotional notes to one and all. Years ago, fine penmanship meant a lot to people, but we’ve forgotten how to write. What would you do if you had a friend or relative living in a faraway place without an internet connection? Would you break off ties with them because picking up a pen was too much work for you? The very best thing about a handwritten letter is that you save it and reread it whenever you re missing that person. I still have a box of letters from my daughter that she wrote when she was in the military. Would I throw them away? Not for all the e-mails in the world.
A brief article by Heather Larson (Arthritis Today magazine: November/December 2010) gave suggestions on how to send greetings if you have painful hands and this applies to many of us. Start early; don’t leave all of your Christmas mailings until the last minute. Believe me; your friends would be happy getting your Christmas letter even if it arrives in July. Consider pre-printed envelopes, custom rubber stamps, making your own cards, using self-adhesive stickers to seal envelopes or ask someone to do the writing or envelope stuffing for you. Use a bulkier pen that easier to grip. Make Christmas mail fun!
Oh, you are sure to get replies if you write early enough. If opening envelopes is difficult for you can find letter openers with large handles, or even a one-handed envelope opener to ease the burden. Merry Christmas to you!
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