I always loved getting holiday letters from friends and family. Often it is the only time I heard from people I cared about each year. Over the years, the numbers of cards have decreased and often the letters are brief and impersonal. I am a big proponent of staying in touch with people I love, but I know I could do better. Ron and I wrote a holiday letter together each year, and my first year without him, I decided to write a letter on my own. Here is the sharing I put on my Christmas card the year Ron died:
Christmas this year is a time of reflection for me. In a year of deep experiences, I’ve learned so much.
- I learned the peace of living only in the moment.
- I learned the joy of spending all my time with Ron.
- I learned the love of being surrounded by our Ohana and loving friends and family.
- I learned the gratitude we have for the perfect care given by Hospice.
- I learned the beauty of Hawaiian culture in the memorial service for Ron on the Beach.
- I learned the strength I didn’t realize I have in looking forward to each new day.This holiday season and next year, I wish you peace, joy, love, gratitude, beauty, and strength.
I like what I wrote that year. Reading it again showed me how much I have learned and changed since eight years ago. And It made me realize how much I love the tradition of staying in touch. I keep my holiday card list updated, and I don’t delete addresses of people who don’t keep in touch with me because I still think of them and would love to hear from them too!
I am in the prosses of putting my holiday letter together for this year and am sharing with you a fill in the blanks template as an idea for you to create your own letters. Here you go!
This year has brought me (or us, or our family) ______________________
As I reflect, I realize that:
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- I learned that ____________________________________________________
- I experienced joy by _______________________________________________
- I love that ________________________________________________________
- I saw beauty in ____________________________________________________
- I accomplished __________________________________________________
- I found peace by _________________________________________________
- I am grateful for __________________________________________________
- I love you because _______________________________________________
- I will keep in better touch with you by ______________________________
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This holiday season and next year, I wish you peace, joy, love, gratitude, beauty, and strength.
Feel free to change or add anything you’d like. Have fun with this. I hope you will send letters or cards to at least some of your loved ones, and of course, I would love to get something from you!
Keeping in touch, especially with people who are grieving, can make a huge difference to people you care about.
Happy Holidays!
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