Thursday, November 19, 2009

Christmas Card Dilemma

How many of you out there look forward to those wonderful holiday greeting cards and photos in the mail this time of year? Those cards, photos, and letters are one of the many things I look forward to during the holidays.



I know that most of the pictures I receive are of families or just the children of friends or relatives. I have received a photo or two from single friends and thought nothing of it, but when it comes to me sending a photo of myslef, I have a hard time justifying it, or feeling completely comfortable with the idea. Maybe it's just me and I need a little reassuring from others.

Last year, I worked on a collage of photos from races and trips, planning on sending it out as a New Year card but then started to wonder what people would think of it. I think holiday photos can be so much fun to share with friends and family but I don't want my pictures to be seen in a negative light. I never did send out that picture.



What are your thoughts? Have you ever sent out pictures of yourself when you were single, or would you, if you were single?

31 comments:

Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point said...

do it! the cards aren't about showing off your husband or kids, they are about telling your friends and family members about your wonderful life! and of course, your life can be entirely wonderful (sometimes more so) when you are rocking the single life!

Jess said...

I think a collage of pics from your year is a great idea!

When I was single, I know I didn't send out a photo card, but I know I sent a card. Maybe. I can't remember.

Kristen said...

Totally do it! I have a single friend who did a collage last year - there were pics of her, her pets, her with friends, etc - people love to see pictures!! These are especially cool - seeing a family in front of a tree time and time again is boring.

RunnerGirl said...

Send them - its a great idea! I always loves getting cards at Christmas, but especially love the ones with photos :)

SavvyFitChica said...

My vote is to do it! Whether it's a collage or just one pic of you, send away baby! Your friends and family want to see you and will feel joy from the card just as you when you receive their cards!

MCM Mama said...

Do it! I love picture cards. My only pet peeve is cards where it is just the kids - I love to see the kids, but really, I want to see pictures of my friends.

So, just do it!

Unknown said...

Do it! Do it! Do it! And post a picture here of the card so we can all see it too! I look at picture cards of telling people what happened in YOUR life this year... husband, family, kids or solo! :)

Neesha and Dustin said...

Definitely send it! Or make a new one. That'd be awesome and your friends/family will love it and proudly display it on their fridges all year long!

Aka Alice said...

I like the collage of pix idea. In all honesty, I was thinking about doing an electronic xmas card this year. Is that bad? I just have boxes full of cards from the past and I always think about the trees (yes, I keep them and I fret about it. I'm insane).

Shannon said...

I too like the collage~whenever I get a photo collage like that I always want to something like that too. :)

Tony said...

I send out a christmas card when I was single, but with all my friends I'm always a clown. So I sent out a christmas card with me wearing antlers and attacking Santa. A stupid joke, but everyone got a kick out of it.

J said...

I was just thinking about christmas cards. last year I sent out ones to my boyfriends grandparents with a picture of me and him. I feel weird sending it to a lot of ppl because we aren't married or anything.

Runner Leana said...

I haven't sent a picture out of me, but I did of Finlay. You know, I think it would be great to get a collage together of races, travels, maybe the new house...anything that is really important to you. I don't think people would see it in a negative light.

RunToTheFinish said...

you know I think the cards are super cute from my friends with kids because I never see the kids...but I just couldn't ever get one for me and david, at least not yet we feel to cheeserific doing it. Maybe if we dressed up the cats or something and made it really funny

Gotta Run..... said...

I say... send a photo and make it a FUN one. you only live once so do it :))))

Jess said...

This will be my very first year sending cards (maybe...if my parents don't include me on theirs) so I don't have good advice on that one.

Anne said...

The collage idea seems to be popular here. I am writing just to assure you that it isn't self-serving or hubris to include a photo (or several) in the cards. In fact, most of my single friends do it - usually of them from a big trip that year - and I love receiving them.

Marlene said...

I would probably include the photo9s) for close friends and family, but not everyone.

Anonymous said...

I love looking at pictures of all my friends and family. However, like you I'm not big on includign ones of myself. I vote, send them!

Carolina John said...

i don't send out christmas cards on the principle that i am too lazy and have trouble caring about what other people think when i don't send them a christmas card. so anything you actually do will be one step ahead of me. congratulations.

Laurel said...

I LOVE the idea of a race collage. Your friends and family would probably love it! They want to see what's up with you too!

I make our cards every year and last year I did a collage of us doing different things in Philly (including some race photos) since we had just moved here. It said "Greetings from Philly" and just had all these shots of us in different, famous landmark places. People really liked it.

Holly said...

I think you definitely need to do a collage photo card! I'll be expecting one. :)

Melissa said...

I think that is an awesome card idea. I love Christmas cards! I am stopping by your blog b/c we are on a "team" together for the Holiday Bootie Buster challenge. Just wanted to say Hi and I look forward to getting to know you during the challenge.

Badgergirl said...

I send out a Christmas card each year. I usually just buy the boxes of cards you find in the aisle at Target. But most years I've included a letter inside the card, kind of updating people on what's been going on in my life. I've considered the photo option, but I've never come across a decent picture that I want to send out to a bunch of people!

The photo collage sounds like a great idea though!

Anonymous said...

I think it would be fun to do. I personally don't do it but I'm lazy and too environmentally conscious these days. I typically only send cards to relatives who don't have email and email the rest of my friends a christmas greeting.

Wes said...

having an updated photo of people you care about is ALWAYS a good thing!

N.D. said...

I think that is a cute idea!!

Lily on the Road said...

I think a really nice picture of you in front of you new home (maybe decorated for Christmas) would be an awesome thing to send along...

Go for it!!

Kelly said...

I think it would be so cool for you to do a collage picture of you...I would never see that in a negative light I'd be like THATS AWESOME haha

Danielle said...

I think the collage of races sounds like a great idea. I have yet to do it myself. Keep wishing I had a dog or something to send a picture with, because a friend of mine does that in lieu of kids and that's always cool, but I can't see ever sending a picture of just me...I haven't yet, and I do toy with it every year. Maybe if I had some cool running pics of me, but I don't even have that this year!!

Anonymous said...

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