Writing a Holiday “Hello”
December 18, 2024
Cathy Holt | Writing Center Graduate Assistant
Opening my mailbox in December is more exciting than any other time of the year. Why? Because in that bundle of junk mail and bills, I may also find a sweet holiday greetings card from my old college friend or, perhaps, from my sister living in New Orleans. I’ve always loved receiving a tangible, handwritten “hello” in the mail, but it means even more to me now that I live in this screen-filled, digital world.
Most of the cards I receive include printed group photos of families with a short message on the back. While I love receiving this holiday mail, this format doesn’t quite appeal to my personal form of self-expression. I, myself, have never written a holiday card before. As you might imagine, I much prefer written word and long-winded heartfelt messages.
I am currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling here at Xavier and I am keenly aware of the techniques that can improve one’s mental health. Recently, the concept of gratitude letters has had a moment on the internet; but, regardless of its “trending” status, gratitude has historically been—and will continue to be—a reliable method of improving one’s wellbeing.
Given my proclivity toward sentimentality and my love of writing, I decided that creating gratitude letters this year would be the perfect way to finally start participating in the American tradition of holiday greet cards.
If you, too, would like to give this style of letter writing a try, I’ve put together a little step-by-step guide that you can follow along with me:
1. Identify the people to whom you’d like to express gratitude.
Right away, I can think of at least 5 people to whom I’d love to send a holiday gratitude card. After I’ve written those 5 letters, I may even expand my list
2. For each person, make a list of bullet points of the things for which you’d like to express gratitude.
I don’t like to jump immediately into writing the letter. I need to do a little planning first—I’m truly a Writing Center employee at heart! Brainstorming ideas for a letter operates as a useful tool for writing and as a productive mental health exercise. I love creating opportunities to reflect on my meaningful relationships.
3. Choose festive cards (or make them) and write the letters!
I’ve recently become a craft-loving person, so I will use my newly acquired holiday stamp collection to create my own holiday cards. (If this isn’t your thing, pick up some decorative cards at the store.) Once the outlines and holiday cards are ready, I will be fully prepared to begin writing letters. Sometimes I’ll scribble the first drafts in my notebook before writing the messages on the cards. This isn’t an exact science, of course; make this process your own!
4. Sign, seal, deliver!
At this point, I’ll enter “errands mode.” I‘ll put on my oldest jeans and comfy Christmas sweater, grab my favorite water bottle, and head out the door with my sealed, addressed, and stamped letters. I can’t wait to drop those holiday greetings in the mailbox!
Expressing gratitude to someone is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season. Not only does it help improve your mental health, but it also serves as a “holiday hello” that many of us like to send one another this time of year. And, after all, bringing joy into the lives of the people around you is what the holiday season is all about.
On behalf of myself and the entire Writing Center team, we are grateful for all the Xavier students who’ve visited us this Fall. We sincerely enjoy the opportunity to help you all feel more confident as writers. When someone leaves the Writing Center with a “thank you, you really helped me so much,” the staff feels a great sense of fulfillment. The team is looking forward to the Spring semester and the time we’ll get to spend writing with you and the entire Xavier community.
Happy holidays from the Writing Center!
