The Christmas voice
The door behind me closes softly. I’ve just bid my children goodnight and while they sleep soundly, tucked in their beds like fluffy little jelly rolls, dreaming of Santa, counting the days till he arrives, I quietly head upstairs. There, by the warm glow of the tree, shimmering with mementos and nostalgic glitter, I play some soft holiday jazz, pour myself a glass of wine, and write my Christmas cards.
Every year, it is my tradition to handwrite a personal greeting for everyone who has meant something to me over the year. Instead of trinkets, I make donations to a chosen foundation or support a local grassroots endeavor through a token. My real present, however, is making that message count.
We breeze through life at interstellar speed, oftentimes forgetting to express our gratitude. Perhaps we’ve adopted a gratitude practice where we journal or pray in the peaceful confines of our home.
My list has its constants, and evolves over time. Some are people I’ve worked with, some I’ve known since childhood, others are new friendships but that have touched my life so deeply. I also send to my loved ones in faraway places. Unfortunately, because I never manage to organize myself properly to be able to design and print my cards in a timelier fashion, they only ever receive their cards in the New Year. Which has influenced my layout and printed greetings to skew towards holiday and New Year wishes. I still send them anyways, knowing that the handwritten, personal note inside will always be appreciated—even if they receive them in March (which has happened before).
There is an art to writing these cards. A few of them merit lengthier prose, like an overseas friend who took the time to visit us in Manila and spent his days playing with the boys and being fully present. Others are short and snappy, with a witty inside joke thrown in. There are also the more formal messages of appreciation and those that are like mini-love letters, odes to friendship and partnerships. None of them are generic.
Although I have roughly a hundred stacked beside me, I write each one tirelessly. And even if sometimes my script becomes sloppy after a few hours, one thing is certain—the messages are crisp and clear. I appreciate you. I wish you only the best. I wish to have more of you in my life. Thank you.
We breeze through life at interstellar speed, oftentimes forgetting to express our gratitude. Perhaps we’ve adopted a gratitude practice where we journal or pray in the peaceful confines of our home, but how often do we truly go out of our way to say thank you? To share it directly with the person? How often do we say we appreciate someone? That we love them and care for them? That we wish to spend more time with them?
Christmas is my favorite time of year to do this. To reflect on my relationships with the wonderful people who surround me, how they have expanded, how life has brought us together even for a brief moment to create something beautiful.
In the realm of the space holding the work that I have been doing lately, I’ve come to realize one common thread: many of us out there don’t feel seen. Not that they aren’t appreciated but that, oftentimes, the way the perceive themselves is that they aren’t doing enough. They don’t believe they are valuable if they aren’t productive. Just by existing, we are valuable. And sometimes a small, unexpected reminder from the universe is all you need.
The Christmas card spirit extends beyond the season. I love giving and receiving handwritten notes. Sending random flowers or goodies. But my favorite practice is the voice note. I will record a little voice message out of the blue if I think of someone or just to tell them I love them. I am notoriously terrible at remembering birthdays, but I do make it a point to send them a truly honest and effusive greeting—even if it may be a week late.
Social media has its caveats but it does help remind us of everyone’s milestones. Sometimes I’ll pick up the phone and send a random voice note to someone I admire—perhaps not a very close friend, but someone I care for—just to congratulate them and tell them they inspire me.
There is something so much more personal about hearing a voice, one that expresses their well wishes audibly, with clarity and intention. Words have power, a vibrational and energetic quality that is palpable. Practice the art of spreading gratitude, congratulations, forgiveness, compassion and love—out loud.
And with that, here’s one for you, my dearest reader. Tears well up in my eyes as I type these last few paragraphs, because I can’t help but be filled with emotion. I can’t believe I am just three months shy of celebrating 15 years as a columnist with The Philippine STAR. That’s 15 years, of sharing my stories with you, but, most importantly, 15 years of you reading them. You see, I never know who gets to read these pieces. They are like missives into the ether, words sent out into the dark and mysterious universe.
In the early days, when social media wasn’t a thing, most of you read this on broadsheet pages. Every so often, I would get stopped at the supermarket or in the mall by a stranger who would take the time to say they were touched by my words. You cannot imagine how much that means to me. Today’s world is so much more collaborative, with ways to message and reach out. I would love to hear from you; what is it you wish to read about? Questions you might have or topics you wish me to cover? Please. I appreciate you.
May this season bring you the clarity you hope for, the deep and tangible knowing that all the light you need is inside you. That you are capable of endless patience, creativity, strength, compassion, forgiveness, and most importantly, love. That just by existing, you are valuable. That you are loved. So, so, so very loved.
I am grateful for you.
With all my heart, Stephanie.
