Reconnecting with Loved Ones this Holiday

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of celebration and togetherness, but sometimes that connection just doesn't happen. The holidays end, and we're left wondering why we didn't make contact with our loved ones like we'd intended.

Often the best way to reconnect is to plan to do so. Just waiting for the time to present itself doesn't usually work. So with a little deliberate thinking and planning, you can do a better job of reconnecting with your loved ones this holiday season.

Here are some tips

1. Christmas Cards - Dust off your fountain pen and buy a box or two of Christmas cards. These days, a hand-written card is a gift indeed, and quite personal. Many families include a family "update" or newsletter in the card, and that can be a great way to keep that connection going. Photos of the family each year also help foster connections. You can send a card with photos in it (another old-fashioned treasure in this day and age of digital photography!), or have a photo company make cards out of your family photos.

To encourage a return (connection works both ways, after all), you might include a self-addressed, stamped envelope that your loved ones can send back to you. Request they put photos or a family update in the envelope.

2. Online Connections - You can use modern means to stay connected, too. In fact, today's technology makes reconnecting with your loved ones easier than ever before. If you have a webcam, you can download Skype and have a video chat. If you have a laptop with a camera, you can even take your loved ones on a virtual tour of your home and all the decorations by carrying the laptop around while you're connected. Far-away relatives can even join you by video chat while you open presents, enjoy a meal, or decorate your home.

If live connections aren't possible, you can send videos to your loved ones via email or social media.

3. Open House - If you have loved ones who live nearby but you still find it challenging to reconnect during the holidays, you could host an open house. This kind of casual hospitality frees you and your loved ones up from having to do a lot of planning. Your role is to choose a day and approximate time, and then let your loved ones know via invitation that they are welcome to stop by anytime during that time.

If you hold an open house all day, there should be a window for just about everyone who's in town. Keep finger foods and drinks out, and encourage people to stop by whenever they can. 

Happy Holidays!