The Christmas Cards Gratitude Challenge
A simple, heartfelt way to use Christmas cards as part of a seasonal gratitude practice.
By Esme Addison
There is something special about opening your mailbox during the holiday season and finding a handwritten card tucked between the bills and catalogs. A Christmas card is a small gesture but a powerful one. It tells you that someone paused in the middle of a busy season to think of you, choose something meaningful, write your name, and send a bit of love into the world.
That feeling is part of why I created Cozyville by Due South. I wanted a place where the beauty, warmth, and connection of small town Southern living could be celebrated and shared through something as timeless as Christmas cards. The cards I create are inspired by real memories, real people, and the traditions that shaped me from childhood through the years I spent traveling the world as a military spouse. Now that I am back in North Carolina raising my family, these traditions mean more than ever.
Holiday or Christmas cards are one of those traditions. Growing up, I remember my mother buying Christmas cards (and other types of greeting cards to) all year long, saying, “Oh, this will be perfect for so and so.” Then when the holiday came around, she already had the greeting cards she needed, thoughtfully and mindfully chosen with the recipient in mind.
As I’ve grown older, I have come to see that she was onto something. I actually started doing the same thing, just last year. (Am I turning into my mother?? lol) But I digress… Sending Christmas cards is not just a custom. It is an opportunity to practice gratitude in a way that is simple, meaningful, and deeply grounding. And it’s a tradition I’ve added to my own life.
And this season, I want to share how holiday or Christmas cards can become part of a personal gratitude practice for you, whether this is your first year trying it or you have been journaling gratitude for years.
Gratitude Is Not Just For Thanksgiving
Why Gratitude Matters During The Holidays
The holidays are full of joy but also full of demands. A gratitude practice shifts your focus from pressure to purpose. Research shows that taking time to acknowledge what you are thankful for can:
- Lower stress
- Improve sleep
- Strengthen emotional resilience
- Deepen relationships
- Increase overall life satisfaction
Gratitude works best when it is expressed, not just felt. Writing a holiday card is one of the gentlest and most heartfelt ways to do that.
The Holiday Greeting Card Gratitude Challenge
Whether you are new to gratitude practices or already journal regularly, this challenge can help you connect more deeply with the people in your life and bring intentional joy to your season.
1. Make A Gratitude List
Write down at least five people you are thankful for. Think beyond the obvious.
Consider:
- A spouse or partner
- Parents, siblings, children
- A friend you grew up with
- Someone who helped you through a difficult moment years ago
- A pastor or teacher
- A neighbor who waves from their porch
- Your barista who remembers your order
- The lawn care worker who shows up even in the heat
- Your doctor, your child’s teacher, or the delivery driver who makes your life easier
This step alone is grounding. It reminds you how supported you truly are.
Four Simple Ways Families Can Learn Gratitude Together
2. Choose Cards That Feel Meaningful
Once you have your list, pick a card that matches each person. Think in terms of feeling, not obligation.
For example:
- For the neighbor who trims your hedges without being asked, choose something with winter trees or a peaceful outdoor scene.
- For a teacher, something warm, cozy, or bookish.
- For an old friend, something nostalgic.
- For a family member, something that reflects shared traditions.
As you browse, let yourself slow down. Trust what resonates.
3. Write A Thoughtful Message
Before you write inside the card, take a separate sheet of paper and answer three questions about each person:
- What reminds you of them?
- What do you appreciate about them?
- How have they made your life better this year or in years past?
Once you have clarity, write your message inside the card. It does not have to be long. It only has to be real.
A few heartfelt lines matter more than the prettiest scripted paragraph.
If you enjoy craft or embellishment, you can add touches like ribbons, stickers, or a pressed leaf. If not, the simplicity of your words is enough. What matters most is that you send it.
Why This Practice Works
Writing cards takes your gratitude out of your head and places it into someone else’s hands. It becomes a shared experience. When you send a card, you are strengthening connection. You are slowing down in a season that often encourages rushing. You are choosing intention over automatic busyness.
And you are making someone’s day brighter. That has value.
A Tradition Worth Keeping
You may find that this becomes a once-a-year practice, or it may spark something that carries into birthdays, anniversaries, or ordinary Tuesdays. Gratitude grows when it is expressed regularly. Sometimes all it needs is a doorway. Holiday cards are a beautiful doorway.
You might think, hey, you’re just creating and writing about this challenge because you just launched a greeting card line… and you wouldn’t be wrong. But! Gratitude practices are near and dear to my heart, and I think that it’s a truly beneficial practice to add to your life. You don’t have to buy cards from my new greeting card line – you can get them from your local drugstore. Walmart greeting cards. CVS greeting cards are all fine. As are making your own…Shutterfly greeting cards. Minted greeting cards. All options!
But… If you are looking for cards that feel personal, thoughtful, and inspired by real stories, Cozyville by Due South was created with that spirit in mind. Each collection is designed to help you pause, connect, and share something meaningful with the people you love.
If you take the challenge, find me on Instagram or Facebook @EsmeAddisonAuthor and share your story in pictures, videos and words. If you’re a little shy, I have a contact me page at EsmeAddison.com
Wishing you a season filled with warmth, reflection, and heartfelt connection!
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