I heard a story on the radio the other day.
A guy mailed 500 Christmas cards to complete strangers.
They said: "Thinking of You this Holiday Season - Love, The Smiths"
He received Christmas cards back from 70% of those complete strangers.
The guy on the radio said it was because you reap what you sow. In other words, send out a little kindness, receive a little kindness.
That may be. Or...
Maybe the card receivers didn't want to look like jerks. Maybe they thought the cards came from a long lost classmate they had forgotten about. Maybe when they sent the Christmas card back they were really looking out for their own self-image. Maybe it had nothing to do with kindness.
Is that cynical of me?
Would you have sent a Christmas card back?
6 comments:
Okay, I completely agree that it has nothing to do with kindness or warm mushy stuff! I'm sorry...maybe it's just the synic in me but people aren't really touched by a random stranger "thinking" about them. I also think there is something odd about wanting 100s of cards from total strangers as well.
I would not have replied to them because I don't know who they are. I would have asked Matt about them and then we would have probably just always wondered who the "smiths" were.
funny.
I think I would have probably thought it was from someone I've known in my life. But since I'm really disorganised with chrissy cards (I'll try to be better this year - LOL- I say that every year & it's still christmas eve when they go out) so I probably wouldn't have mailed one back!
I wouldn't have mailed one back either.
Interesting though.
No, I don't think it is cynical...I think that is just human nature....pride is the root of most sin right? Sad. I'm tracking with you on this. And no, I wouldn't have sent one back, or actually, (it depends on my mood some days) I might send one back, saying I don't know who you are but, have a merry christmas anyway!
I was touched deeply by the thought of someone caring enough to send cards to complete strangers. Think of it...caring that much for strangers!
Jim Diamond
I wouldn't send them a card back. And I probably would google their name to see if I could possibly figue out who they were wondering where we had met them!
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