The evolution of sending holiday cards has been more like a de-evolution when one examines how something so personal has transformed over time and technology into something so impersonal and mass-produced.

 Let’s go back in time for just a moment when Holiday cards were reserved for those friends and family members who were nearest and dearest to our hearts. We spent a significant amount of time going to the store to pick out just the right ones. We used red and green pens to carefully scroll our sentiments and well wishes. We trekked to the post office for holiday-specific stamps. It took several nights, licking stamps while watching our favorite re-runs, in order to complete this annual project.  

An interesting side note

“While the first greeting card actually dates back to the early 1400’s, greeting cards became popular in the mid 1800’s when the cost of color printing dropped, and cards could be delivered for just a penny. Sir Henry Cole is credited with coming up with the idea for the first mass produced greeting card, which turned out to be a Christmas card he had created by his good friend, John Calcott Horsely. It depicted a young boy with a red scarf and the greeting ‘Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year’” http://www.huntergreetings.com/historyofcards.html

I don’t know about you, but I tend to display, cherish and hold on to holiday cards that have been either hand-crafted by children, created with a scrap booker’s artistic flair, that merrily showcase photos or simply include a lovely, personal,  hand-written sentiment. 

Call me ungrateful, but the cards that I tend to receive from my Chiropractor or Dentist are barely given a second look-pre-printed, mass-produced, some are generated from card companies in other states…their signatures aren’t even genuine.  Here’s the real truth…I wouldn’t miss them or think twice if I didn’t receive these professionals’ holiday cards, but  boy-oh-boy would I be bummed if I didn’t receive my Aunt Jacqueline’s, “Holiday Letter from the Heart” or my neighbor, Trudy’s, “Year in Review” Newsletter.

It seems nowadays, we spend more time making sure that every friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker, business associate, personal service provider, customer, client & acquaintance, makes it onto our holiday card list, than we spend doing what was originally intended in the first place –to reach out, share, reconnect & spread personal, warm-hearted sentiments.

It’s almost as if everyone is in one big, unspoken, competition to see who will get the most holiday cards back in return. And God forbid that we receive a card from someone who we forgot to put on our list…Ohhh, the embarrassment!!

Stepping down from my soap-box, I realize that hand-writing, hand-addressing or hand-crafting holiday cards will not make it on the top of most of our priority lists. However, I’d like to challenge you to do something different this year for your clients and loved ones. Instead of sending a tired-ole’, pre-printed holiday greeting card, write and send a “Holiday Letter from the Heart.” Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to have been the recipient of several wonderful examples from my coaching clients. 

Not only did they report receiving calls from clients, family & friends telling them how wonderful their letter was and how much they enjoyed reading it, but my clients also felt uplifted by the exercise because it gave them the time to reflect on the year, capture and share positive personal experiences and to really THANK their clients and loved ones for their loyalty and support.

Helpful hints to writing your Holiday Letter from the Heart

#1 Keep it positive-This is the perfect time of year to share less of your fear and much more of your joy. Your clients and loved ones are bombarded daily with media madness and people I affectionately refer to as, energy vampires. Refrain from reminding everyone of “…what a tough year it’s been.”

#2 Be personal-Think of something you did this year that people can connect with.  For example, one client of mine wrote about traveling a very long distance to attend his family reunion for the first time. He tied that together with how important it is to stay connected and make time for simple pleasures.  Another client wrote about becoming a grandmother for the first time to triplets. She tied that together with the importance of practicing patience and accepting that life is full of both tough and wonderful challenges.

#3 Keep it short-Write your first draft and just let it flow. Write as many pages as you like. Then go back with a paring knife and whittle it down to the core.  Keep it to one, full length document.

#4 Include photos-Face it…there’s a bit of a snoop in all of us. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love to see pictures of kids, vacation destinations, family pets, our spouses, etc.

#5 Share lessons learned-This is a great way to wrap-up your Holiday Letter from the Heart. It reveals what’s important to you, your values and view on life.

Take the time to send the one thing this holiday season, that no other person, or piece of technology can reproduce…send your heart.

All my best,

Coach Victoria Del Frate