Tips for your Best Holiday Card Ever

Every Thanksgiving weekend, I sit down to draft our annual holiday card. And every year, the struggle is the same:

“Ugh, that photo of me! ” “What do I even say?” “What do I even write in 20 square inches of space?”

Sound familiar?

Here are three simple ideas to make your holiday card feel meaningful - and maybe even easier to write:

1. Share one bright spot, not the whole year.

Instead of a month-by-month recap, or feeling like you need to include several highlights, just pick one moment that captures the spirit of your year.

Example: "Our big highlight was a family trip to Italy in June. The kids got to experience a new culture and fresh PASTA, and Anne got to gain back some of her Italian language skills.

Similarly, instead of including 6 photos in a collage on the front, consider choosing just one photo so we can really see the faces and expressions. LESS IS MORE.

2. Don’t disappear behind the kids (or your dog).

If you have kids, the card often becomes a collage about them; but people also want to hear a little about you. Share one line about your life, work, or something that surprised you this year.

Example: “I started a new job that’s been energizing in all the right ways.”

3. Tell a tiny truth - not a polished summary.

People connect more with a small, honest moment than a perfect recap. One line of real-life texture is more memorable than a paragraph of “2025 was a good one."

Example: “We didn’t travel this year - but we rediscovered the joy of slow, lazy weekends and long neighborhood walks.”

Holiday cards are a great reminder of something true in all communication: People remember warmth, honesty, and a single clear moment — not volume.