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.
2 comments:
Oh Dionna!!! You have NO idea how much we have battled this very same topic this year regarding family members. Ones we never hear from unless we make the effort and even then we never get even a phone call back from. It was really hard but we sent cards anyways out of feeling the family obligation to. There is so much more to that, but boy how I wish I could send this post to each of the family members in my life right now that have the "who cares", "I like bucking tradition", and "oh I care and love you but never show you ever" attitude towards us. I wish and pray it would do a world of good, but sadly I think their hearts are too cold for it to heat it up like it should! Please know you are not alone. We feel the very same way as well. We love you oh so dearly!!!!! I hope and pray we are able to see you all soon!!!! I love you!!! xoxo {and thank you for the card this year. Your family is absolutely beautiful and loved very much!}
At the risk of offending or being inflammatory I have to say that I don't get as many cards as I have in past years, but it never occurred to me to think that meant I wasn't important to someone.
As far as sending cards this year, well, then, Shame on Me. I didn't send cards this year because 1) we moved over the holidays, which took a great deal of my time and energy and 2) I honestly didn't have the extra money to buy/print cards and get stamps this year. Yes, this year the cost WAS too high for us. Christmas cards, no matter how you do them, can be expensive. If my friends and family think that means I don't care about them, then we all have some work to do in strengthening our relationships because I know full well that the friends and cousins who didn't send out cards this year still love me.
Perhaps some of those people who stopped sending cards did the same thing you did and "made a statement". Perhaps they have financial or other issues that people aren't aware of.
If we really and truly value our families and friends, we do or say things all year long to show them. Notes, phone calls, emails, a comment on Facebook. I know who matters in my life and more importantly to whom I matter because of reasons other than Christmas cards.
Sorry, stepping off the soapbox now.
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