Text your response

How to share holiday cheer, even if you aren't sending cards

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is that even if you don't send holiday cards,
you can wish a happy holiday season to the people

(00:23):
who send you season's greetings. Simply send a text with
holiday greetings to everybody who sends you a card, and
you can get some of the same warm fuzzies even
if the card thing isn't for you. So longtime listeners
know that I love holiday cards. I think they are

(00:44):
a great way to keep in touch with friends, family,
and colleagues. My family sends out a great many of
them every year. I also enjoy receiving all the photos
of people's cute kids, dogs, holiday decorations, or travel adventures
for a few weeks each year. The mail is actually fun.

(01:07):
If you are on the fence about sending cards, I
encourage you to do so. But plenty of people don't
send holiday cards for various reasons, and that is okay.
But I imagine that most people still do want to
connect and maintain ties with the people who send them cards.
So I suggest texting a response to the cards you

(01:30):
receive is a quick and free way to maintain that connection.
When you process your mail each day during the holiday season.
For every card you receive, text the senders thank them
for the card, perhaps comment on any photo or news
they shared, share news of your own, and of course,

(01:50):
wish them a happy holiday. In just a minute or so,
you can reinforce the sense of connection and offer your
holiday wishes. Your mess will most likely be received with delight.
A text conversation may ensue, or maybe the recipient will
just heart your message and move on, but either way,

(02:14):
you have expressed your appreciation for the card, you have
reinforced the connection, and you have wished them the best.
Most likely you will now stay on their holiday card
list so you can look forward to a similar exchange
next year. If you are not sending holiday cards this year,
but think you might like to send them in the future,

(02:35):
it can also be helpful to create a spreadsheet of
everyone who sends you cards, including the adults and kids'
names and the address. That way, if you decide to
send holiday cards next year, the spreadsheet will get you
started determining whom to write to and how to reach them.
The spreadsheet will also come in handy if you want

(02:57):
to send party invitations or change of address cards or
birthday cards or anything like that. There is no reason
to feel left out or self conscious if you don't
send holiday cards when your loved ones do. A festive
text is still fun. You let people know their card

(03:18):
was appreciated. It is an easy way to maintain relationships
and spread holiday cheer In the meantime. This is Laura.
Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of
our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've

(03:43):
got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at
Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a
production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to

(04:05):
your favorite shows.