Other People Aren't Important

My heart has been saddened the last few Christmases. I've discovered that my family has been the recipient of fewer and fewer Christmas cards each year. Receiving an update, letter, pictures, and maybe a word or two of care and love from those in our life - well...it's one of my favorite things about Christmas! I check the mailbox every day for those words and greetings of love, support, and comraderie. They come less and less.

I'm not the only one. I've talked to several others who have seen the same thing happen to them. They are not seeing as many Christmas cards being sent to their families.

Are people getting too busy? Do they have so much to do in their lives that they can't reach out to touch those who are supposedly supposed to be important to them? Is the cost of stamps really that high?

I've decided that it is just that when it comes down to it - other people aren't as important to people as they say they are. What else could it be? "Well-meaninged" intentions are nothing unless they are put into action!

This year, I got tired of sending "obligatory" christmas cards out to people whom I had not heard from in the past four years. Family or not - I decided to make a statement and only send cards to those who had put something of themselves into my families' life during the year in some way. I cringe at saying that because I love each one of these people dearly. But there's got to be somewhere, some point where you say - I won't be taken for granted anymore... just how much do I mean to you?

My heart truly grieves that this is what we've come to. That our lives are becoming more about "to-do's", "have-to's", and "need-to's" than they are about relationships. It's gonna show up in our lives, you know. We will see more depressed people, stressed out people, and cold-hearted people without the interaction and interweaving of connected relationships in their lives.

If you are one of the ones who doesn't send out Christmas cards - shame on you! Shame on you for "taking" from others and not giving something so simple, so easy, and so heartfelt - a little love.

Maybe other people just aren't as important to you, as you say they are. And if they truly are important to you - how would they know? - You don't tell them.

~ Dionna Sanchez (Keeping It Real Columnist)

Comments

[Maureen Locher]

Christmas cards are so important. Thanks for putting them in the proper light, Dionna.

Maureen Locher
Copy editor MWLM

[Lucie Bouchard Antoniazzi]

Thanks for sharing, Dionna. I agree with you 100%. Every year, I send out at least 40 Christmas cards to family and friends. I even go through the trouble of writing a personal Italian message in the cards to my husband's Italian relatives (with my Italian grammar book and my Italian/English dictionary on hand). However, I only receive a handful of cards myself.

I have to admit that I have thought of stopping, but I keep it going...hoping that someday, I'll receive at least as many cards back.

Happy holidays!
Lucie