MJS Designers Group

A Christmas caution
We've lost that lovin Connection" ...and the digital world is the fault...apologies to the Righteous Brothers...
Last night, friends of mine attended a performance at the Dr. Phillips Center. We are donors, and as we took our seats, an envelope was taped to our seat with a handwritten note from a major fundraiser thanking us for our loyalty and support of the arts.
That simple gesture struck me—it was lovely to receive a handwritten note expressing gratitude. And it got me thinking: we’ve gotten away from that, haven’t we? Today, we use emails, animated cards, and things that vanish if our computer crashes. But you know what never crashes? Handwritten notes—especially from loved ones.
In a world of instant messages and e-cards, have we lost something precious? How many of us save emails as keepsakes? Probably none. But handwritten Christmas cards—the ink, the texture, even the faint scent—carry memories that no screen can replicate.
Technology makes communication fast, but not always meaningful. Love cannot be automated. A digital greeting may arrive in seconds, but a handwritten note becomes a lasting gift.
Think of the first Christmas: The Three Wise Men didn’t send an email or a postcard. They traveled from afar, bearing gifts, to honor the newborn King. Their journey was personal, sacrificial, and filled with love. Shouldn’t our gestures reflect that same spirit?
And here’s another truth: Many schools don’t even teach cursive writing anymore. I remember sitting in class, looking at the green cursive alphabet circling above the blackboard, practicing between the lines until we got it right. That discipline taught us that words matter—and so does the effort behind them.
For me, when I miss my mom and dad—especially my mom, who always wrote me cards while in school. take them out, look at them, and hold them close to my heart. I know she felt everything she wrote, and it encouraged me to carry on. No email can replace that.
So at Christmas, or for any special occasion, even if it's to say hello, don’t take the easy route of bulk-mailed photo postcards from online services. Go buy real Christmas cards, even Ziggy ones (if they still make them). Gather your family. Sign each one personally. Express your love and well wishes for health and safety. Make it heartfelt.
And here’s a tip: Get a shoebox and start saving those cards—Christmas or otherwise—for your loved ones. You’ll never regret it once your loved ones are gone.
Because memories stored online fade—but those held in your hands live forever.
Merry Christmas! Let’s make it personal again, just as the Wise Men did. ❤️