Where Have All The Christmas Cards Gone?

 The one thing that I miss dreadfully about Christmas is the good old Christmas card. 

While the seamstress and confectioner gear up to take on the onslaught of the festive season and every Christian household works overtime to put out their best on that special day, one charming aspect of the festival is slowly fading away... Where have all the paper Christmas cards gone?

There are generations who have grown up minus the internet or the cell phone, played Catching Cook and not Candy Crush, and enjoyed the ritual of writing and posting Christmas greetings. 

I pride myself on belonging to one of those generations. This part of the Christmas preparations was delegated to me when I was a teen. 

I sat down and made a list of whom the cards would go out to, trying not to forget anyone. First came the immediate family circle—grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, then distant relatives and friends. 

Once I had made the list, with constant additions and subtractions, I went to stores that stocked Christmas cards. I read and reread the words on the inside and outside of the card and strove to pick a good mix of fun and spirituality, intending to send the right card to the right person. 

Then I returned home and assembled together all that was needed to send out the greetings. I carefully wrote the cards in my best schoolgirl handwriting, slipped them into their envelopes, glued or licked the required stamps onto the envelope, and handed them over to an elder to be dropped into the post box. That was one job struck off the Christmas ‘to-do' list.

In the meantime, as the festival drew nearer, the trips to the letterbox grew more frequent—I snatched a moment or two every day to peer into the letterbox to find out if Mr. Postman had made my day. Sometimes he did, sometimes not. 

On good days, I collected the cards, ran home, opened each, and exclaimed in delight as I read the sender's name. The cards were kept away carefully to be strung up along with the decorations. Some precious old ones also found a place alongside the new ones.

Emojis and digital greetings are no substitute for the charm of writing and posting Christmas cards. They are the closest one can get to a hug on this special day. 

Do you send e-cards or go with the virtual ones?  

Image credit: Pixabay.

I, Me, Myself : Embracing self- care for a better you

 I, Me, Myself

 

“Self–care is giving people the best of you, instead of the rest of you," says writer Katie Reed. Self-care is not being selfish, it is just that you also give priority to your needs and wants, without guilt, and look to fulfillment and contentment. Unless you are whole and happy, can you help others to be the same? The popular metaphor, “You can’t pour out of an empty cup,” sums it up.

As a society, we will ‘battle on’ despite the odds against us. We tend to expend more energy than we create, leading to burnout. This doesn’t happen all at once but builds momentum and one fine day snowballs into a crisis. Knowing your limitations and striking a balance is crucial towards keeping your cup full.

How does your cup become empty?

When you are constantly prioritising the needs of others, racing to meet targets, and push yourself to do more, you suffer burnout, and your cup begins to empty. You can address the situation by practising self-care or acting to protect and improve your well-being and happiness.

 

Physical self-care.

·       Adequate rest: Prioritise sleep and rest. A well-rested person is better equipped to take on the day's challenges. Aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.

 

·      Exercise: A sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to your health. Besides your daily workout, incorporating movement into your daily routine is important. Exercise improves immunity, and personally, I feel more energised after a good workout.

 

·       Nutrition: Eat to nourish and strengthen your body. Focus on a balanced diet replete with wholesome and nourishing food.

 

·       Hydration: Drink plenty of water, healthy juices, and soups.

·       Health check-ups: Do not miss out on regular health check-ups and stay on top of preventive care.

Emotional Self-Care

Set boundaries: When you think of self-care, think of setting boundaries. Feel free to say no if the interaction or task overwhelms you.

·       Financial health: - Tracking your expenses and building a safety net for yourself is a major step towards improving your financial health and prioritizing self-care.

·       Journaling: Journaling helps you process your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is therapeutic.

·       Strong Support System: A strong support system includes friends, family, and mental health professionals. Confide in trusted individuals to feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

·       Practice gratitude: Reflect on and be thankful for blessings in your life.

·       Engage in activities that you love: Express your creativity and emotions through any form of art or activity like music, writing, drawing, painting, or gardening. 

Spiritual Self - Care

·   Commune with nature: Take long walks, enjoy the sunlight and night sky, breathe in fresh air, and listen to the birds. Just let the joys of nature wash over you.

·     Meditation and Mindfulness: Focus on the present moment, quiet your mind and connect with your inner self.

·       Read spiritual texts: Find peace and inner healing in spiritual texts and sacred writings.

·     Practice forgiveness and letting go: Work on releasing all the negative emotions that you may harbour. Let go of situations that you cannot control and move on.

 

·     Digital Detox: Disconnect from gadgets and devices every once in a while and cultivate inner peace.

 

Finally, life is to be enjoyed, and you will enjoy life, only if you are the best and happiest version of yourself. Besides, you don’t want to be a bother to others, so take care of yourself to the best of your ability. Give yourself permission to take a break. Self-care is not something that you indulge in occasionally, it is a change of lifestyle that you must adhere too. Love and care for yourself and keep that cup brimming. Experiment and use what resonates with you.

 

“I lied and said I was busy.
I was busy;
but not in a way most people understand.

I was busy taking deeper breaths.
I was busy silencing irrational thoughts.
I was busy calming a racing heart.
I was busy telling myself I am okay.

Sometimes, this is my busy -
and I will not apologize for it.”
― Brittin Oakman

Share an uncommon self-care practice that has worked for you.

This post is part of the #BlogchatterHalfMarathon

Image credit - Pixabay.