3 Courtesy Tips for After the Holidays

The holidays are over. You had a great Christmas and New Years eve, but have you forgotten anything?

It is easy to by happy and joyous on Christmas day. As time goes by the "new" wears off the presents you receive and life goes on as usual. One thing I never do is forget the people who have made my Holiday special. I think it is important to treat people fairly and to be considerate to those who are considerate to me. I follow these guidelines to be respectful and to show my appreciation.

1. I always acknowledge when someone has made an effort to buy a gift.

I remember one year my mother being so excited about buying a Pinata for one of my nephews. She was flying to his state that day and could not check it in luggage. She was forced to carry it onboard the airplane with her, and it was huge. She bumped people in the head with it, while walking to her seat. Finally when she arrived there, she gave the Pinata to my nephew. He was not impressed, threw it in the corner and it was forgotten. But what was even worse than that, my mother never even received a thank you for the gift. When I receive a gift I always make it a point to send out a thank you, by any means available. Preferably, I send out a card. But if I cannot do that, I will either send an e-card or make a personal phone call. Too many times I have sent out gifts not knowing if the person liked or even received them. I believe it is truly rude not to acknowledge when another person has made an effort to buy and send me a gift.

2. When someone is extremely generous, make an attempt so show some appreciation by doing something special.

My neighbors were so sweet this Christmas and New Years. They took my husband and I out to dinner numerous times and treated us to so many special things. There clearly would not be any way I could do the same for them, but still I wanted to do something special. I decided to make them an assortment of home made candles. I made them cinnamon roll candles as well as jarred, scented candles. When a person is extremely generous with me, I will make a special effort to do something for them. I do not think it is the monetary value of something that really counts. It is the thought behind it.

3. Never assume that a person with no children should buy your children gifts on every Holiday or Birthday.

My husband and I never had any children, but are blessed with many nieces and nephews. Over the years we have spent so much money on them. We are not wealthy people, so we cannot afford to send Birthday gifts. However we always attempt to send out Christmas gifts. One year I was talking to a nephew on his Birthday, when I heard his father reply, "I don't know why you are talking to her, she never even sent you a gift." I was humiliated. I thought it was apparent that I could afford to send out Christmas gifts, but not Birthday gifts. It makes me feel badly when my relatives assume that I am wealthy enough to purchase so much for their kids. While at the same time getting absolutely nothing in return.

I believe people get a bit caught up with the gift giving aspect of Christmas. If they do not receive the latest gadget or recent top selling toy they are left feeling upset. To me, they should just be happy that someone, somewhere loved them enough to buy them anything.