Not everyone can go home for the holidays but that doesn’t mean your heart is not there. It’s difficult to be away from those who are so dear to us at any time but particularly at the holidays. We can’t all just pick up and go home either. But in these days of seemingly endless technology at our fingertips and many of these costing little or nothing we can let them know that they are thought of and loved.
Here are several suggestions that work for me and may work for you as well.
- Send Christmas cards – use ecards or old-fashioned paper cards. These can sometimes be seen as little “gifts” in and of themselves and something that can be held and read over and over again.
- Set up a group text with family and/or friends. It can be fun to hear from several people and share the messages among all of you. However, beware – if you wan to reply in a personal, private way to someone create a separate text to just that person.
- Skype, FaceTime or use any other App that let’s you actually see the face of your friend or relative. Do it in your pajamas on Christmas morning or later with a cup of coffee (or fruitcake – yes, I am the weird person who actually loves it).
- Set aside all of the technology and pick up your cell phone or landline and call! Gasp! What a novel, old-fashioned way of communicating but so much more personal and moving.
Whatever way you choose to communicate, just do it. This is not the time to think “Well, I called last and he/she is supposed to call me next?” Does it really matter? If it does, then perhaps that is someone you need to let go. If it doesn’t then you can be the one to reconnect. Whether it was yesterday or 20 years ago, if you remember the person fondly or wonder “just what happened to” your friend, reach out and touch that person. Don’t start the conversation with “Well, you never call so I figured I had to” because you don’t.
As we get older you realize what is important and what is not. What is not important are the petty things we hold on to that hold us back from appreciating everything and everyone who is important to us. What is important is appreciating everything and everyone who is important to us.
Let me end on that note and say that if you are reading this post you are very important to me. I am grateful and honored that you are taking time to read my post and perhaps follow my blog. This is my way of reaching out and saying “Thank You” and have a blessed and Merry Christmas and a prosperous, safe and happy New Year!
Aisha says
Yes! I’ve been meaning to call you 🙂 Nothing better than hearing your actual voice 🙂