The Christmas Card Dilemma

Last year I spoke about the Christmas card dilemma (first world problem) – to do or not to do. My family and I have had a few not so good years, and for me, I think my annual Christmas card says, “we’re still here and we so appreciate and love all those in our ‘village’”. Despite tricky times, there are always moments of beauty in life and Christmas is a time to celebrate the lovely times. Below are some of my cards from the last few years.

Photo Credit: http://www.liquoricelane.com.au

Once a month or so I go out with my Wise Women for dinner and gelato. These two girls are the wisest women I know, and they also like to eat and debate life – wins all round. The Wise Women and I decided that for us these things were important in putting together our Christmas card:

Christmas is NOT about these things:

a)      This has been a fabulous year for me

b)      My children/cat/dog/fish/chooks are perfect and more beautiful than yours

c)       I am so clever because I constantly travel to beautiful places and you don’t

d)      I am a creative genius and make original cards

e)      The next year is going to be even more perfect than this one was.

Christmas is about many things, including:

a)      Pausing and reflecting on the year that has been –the ugly times and the times that were joyful

b)      Acknowledging that you are still here and you know what time of year it is

c)       Identifying that there are tiny specks of good stuff amongst the ugly that sometimes invades and overwhelms our lives

d)      Celebrating that we are blessed by the people around us who share the digital and/or real air that we breathe…on this journey of mixed blessings

e)      Hope. Peace. Joy.

As a bookish type I often include a list of books which everyone in the family has enjoyed – cause surely everyone loves a book recommendation?!

Photo Credit: http://www.liquoricelane.com.au

The postcard template above can be found on the fab Picklebums blog.