It would be easy to focus on the things that have gone wrong this year. For some, the loss has been devastating. The loss of loved ones, the loss of a business, the loss of physically worshipping at church or attending school or gathering with family.
Everyone is experiencing their own heartache that 2020 has brought upon us. Maybe we can change our perspective as we wrap up the year and find ourselves immersed in a holiday season that feel anything but normal. I am going to challenge myself to focus on gratitude, thankfulness and blessings.
I had to really focus on that challenge recently.
For 80 years, my Grandparent’s ranch has been the gathering place for every holiday. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July….almost 50 of us gather to celebrate together. My oldest aunt told me she has never missed a holiday in EIGHTY years. My grandparents have been gone for almost 20 years, and still we gather together at their ranch. 2020 is the first year we have not been together for holidays. It has been hard. Our celebrations just won’t be the same without aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. I read a meme recently that said, “When this is all over, we are having the greatest St.Patrick’sEasterDeMayoofJuly party anyone’s ever seen. I felt that.
Likely, your clients are also facing a holiday season that looks different from their norm. They are likely missing time spent with loved ones.
But, good news! You have an opportunity to brighten their holiday season. You have an opportunity to express your gratitude by showing your appreciation to your clients and your community!
Focus on ending the year on a good note by showing gratitude. Gratitude seems to have even more meaning when it is expressed during hard times.
Here are a few ideas and opportunities to help you get started!
- Write thank you notes to your top clients. Be specific. Thank them for attending a function, giving a referral, years of loyalty and support. Hand written thank you notes can mean so much to the recipient and they take very little time and effort.
- Support your community. This year has been especially difficult for small business owners. Highlight your favorite local stores in your social media this week. Help them drive traffic to their stores or to purchase online by featuring them on your social media posts or stories.
- Create a fun video to share with your top clients- involve your staff, your family, your pets, etc. Some of your older clients may be feeling the effects of being isolated from loved ones. A fun, lighthearted video wishing them Happy Holidays and showing your appreciation could mean so much to someone that isn’t interacting much with the outside world.
- Send a holiday gift basket. You may not be able to host a big holiday party for your clients this year, but you still want them to know how much you appreciate them. Support local and put together small gift baskets to help kick off the holiday season.
- Feeling really ambitious? Offer to hang Christmas lights. Acts of service can mean the world to someone. Especially to those that would not be able to do the service for themselves.
2020 has not been an easy year, but I won’t forget to count my blessings. I am going to make a concerted effort to show appreciation and gratitude for the people in my life that I love and miss.
I will miss spending Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Ranch, but I will look for opportunities to create new traditions and memories with my husband and my kids….until it’s time for our ultimate Valentine’sNewyearKwanzaaHalloweenEve bash.