Just Write Communications
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Clients
  • Testimonials
  • Writing Tips
  • Weekly Chuckle
  • Meals We Steal
  • Bad Golf

Decimating a Tradition

12/8/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The Christmas card tradition is officially decimated. It’s been dying for years, killed by the internet. Destroyed by the ability of humans to send instantaneous messages. Annihilated by Facebook. Crushed by our collective laziness. And buried by our general inability to prioritize our lives.
 
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s certainly different for those of us who grew up annually reading the reams of handwritten cards send by friends and relatives of our parents, the cards sitting in a little basket when you came home from college or your job to spend time decompressing and flipping through who had kids, who’d moved and sadly sometimes, who had passed away.
 
That basket was full every year during the Christmas holiday. Maybe 40 or 50 cards, perhaps more.
 
When I stepped out into the “real” world, it meant creating your own tradition in terms of sending out some kind of annual end-of-the-year message or photo to encapsulate what went on in your life. I took that on in my mid-twenties, writing up a (hopefully) interesting and informative journey. Slowly, it evolved, along with my life, after marriage and kids.
 
At our peak, we probably received 70-80 cards a year. I think I clocked in at somewhere around 90 in terms of the most cards sent out for the year. Since that time, it’s been all downhill. A year after year decline.
 
Sometimes I would do a full write-up of our year, other times sending a photo with a shorter message. I tried to keep it tight, witty and worthwhile reading. It was fun, but also work.
 
After reaching that peak in cards arriving at our house, I began to monitor for my own sanity, who sent one and who didn’t and began eliminating those who didn’t send us a card from my list who I would send cards to. Thus began the simplification process.

Slow at first, then faster and faster these past few years. There was a watershed moment in the past three or four years when we got less than 20 cards. That’s when I pretty much stopped caring, though I still respond to anyone who sends us a card. That’s my current level of feeling responsible and staying in touch.

Ultimately, for those who use almost any type of social media to stay in touch with friends and family, people have photos of you and know what you’re up to these days. They don’t need a Christmas update, other than to give best wishes for the season.

That’s probably the major reason I feel no compulsion to stay with the old way of doing things. Anyone who is connected with me already has the most recent updates.
 
I still watch the mail. There is something about getting a card in the mail that stands out and says you care, and I appreciate that. Our first card has already come in for this season and I will dutifully respond over the next several weeks.

But I’m not going to lick envelopes and stamps, sign my name 81 times, then cart all the mail to the post office. No, if I have to lick and stamp 17 cards that will be more than enough.   

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All

Proudly powered by Weebly