In today’s technological world we have access to a plethora of websites, smart-phone apps, and digital services that can save us time and make life easier. Although there are a multitude of fantastic benefits, there are also some aspects of personal interaction that we’ve lost touch with due to technology. One of those areas is in our communication with those in our lives. Yes, technology makes it easy to pick up the phone and call or text someone in an instant but it also means that we use digital resources in place of traditional communication methods.
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The Importance of Sending Greeting Cards
February 7th is ‘Send a Card to a Friend’ day. Although some of you may scoff and think this is a silly holiday that was created by the greeting card industry, I think it’s important to remind yourself of the wonderful people in your life and the difference it makes in their lives.
There’s something to be said about receiving a hand-written note in the mail addressed to you. Someone took the time to sit down to send you their well-wishes on a special occasion, to thank you for a gift, or tell you that they’re thinking of you. I’d be willing to bet you don’t know a single person that doesn’t enjoy getting mail. Whether you’re sending a birthday card (with or without money inside!), an anniversary card, a ‘get well soon’ card, a ‘thank you’ card, or a ‘just thinking of you’ card, the list of occasions and reasons to send a hand-written card is endless, and in all situations, always appreciated.
What to Write?
Perhaps you agree that sending hand-written notes is important but you don’t usually send cards because you’re at a loss of what to say. You purchase a card, take it home, and then stare at the blank page wondering what to write. If this is the case there’s multiple books available that have greeting card sentiments and quotes for every occasion. I personally have two books on this subject (‘Words to the Rescue‘ and ‘Thinking of You A Card Greeting for Every Occasion‘) but there are numerous options available and all of them have fantastic purchaser reviews online, which means these books are helpful and they’ll provide guidance on what to write when you don’t know where to start. I’m a big fan of inspirational quotes and I love incorporating quotes in the greeting cards I send.
Where to Buy?
The amount of money you spend on the greeting card itself is not important especially since most people toss their cards after a certain point, it’s the thought that goes into the card and the act of sitting down to write it and popping it into the mail. You can purchase cards in the 2 for a dollar section at your local Dollar Tree that normally retails for more money. Stores like Target have a nice selection of cards for a dollar and I’ve found some really beautiful cards from Trader Joe’s. I’ve also found a few great options that you can purchase on Amazon that have a nice assortment of different greeting cards for a great price and they include coordinating envelopes and some even include envelope stickers. Buying in bulk is a great deal and it means you’ll have a ton of options!
How to Store?
Regardless of where you buy your cards, I urge you to buy a bunch! Go out and purchase an assortment of birthday cards, anniversary cards, general thinking of you cards, and a book of stamps. Get a storage box to keep them organized by occasion for easy use. If you have cards available at home and someone’s special occasion comes up you’ve got no reason not to send a card!
How to Remember?
I recommend getting a small perpetual notebook where you can make note of the special occasions that happen on the same day every year; birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions (both happy and sad). Once you write it in the book, it’s always there and you’ll never forget someone’s special day again. There’s also a great option on Amazon that you can house the dates and the cards in an envelope for each month. I recommend sitting down at the end of each month and writing a card for the upcoming occasions for the next month and pop them in the mail. It’s better to send them early than realize you forgot someone’s birthday. If you send it in advance then they’ll get to enjoy the card on their counter leading up to their birthday rather than for a day or two and then tossing it in the trash.
Hopefully I’ve inspired you to send cards to the important people in your life. I’m interested to know, do you send cards and do you enjoy getting cards?
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I am terrible at remembering all of the different occasions in my friend’s and family’s lives as well as sending cards! You’ve inspired me to improve and be better about doing so, because you’re right about everyone feeling special when someone takes the time to think about them. Thanks for the tips on organizing cards and the books for inspiration on what to write! Those will definitely come in handy for me!
Lovely idea. I used to do that before but i stopped. I will start doing that again. Thanks for sharing
You are so right, greeting cards are getting forgotten, and they are so important. I also love creating and writing, so greeting cards are so much fun for me. Thank you for this post! 🙂
You are absolutely right! Funnily enough Feb 7th is also my Dads birthday, so must remember to get him a card! We also use greeting cards for our business just to send a ‘Thank you’ note. It’s amazing how well appreciated this small gesture is.
I love to receive and send cards. My sister and I, we always exchange cards, it’s a thoughtful way to show that we care.
Though I’m the first to admit my reliance on technology, I will always see the value in tangible letters and cards. I used to have multiple drawers full of greeting cards suitable for any occasion- just might have to get back in the habit!
You have inspired me to create an area in my house to keep a bunch of beautiful cards so that I don’t have an excuse to not send a card. Thanks so much for this reminder! ❤️
Long lost tradition of sending card on various occasions and important days.. I still get emotional to see a letter, a card I had received when I was staying away from my family. Thanks for sharing this. I am going to post card this year for all the festivals 🙂
I use my google calendar to put in special dates to remember with a remind for one week before, so I have time to get and send something. I don’t do it as often as I should but I love sending personalized and handwritten notes.
I forget to send cards often, but I have been trying to work with my boys on making sure they at least send thank you cards for holidays and birthdays. Since they are so young, I often give them a piece of paper, help them write thank you, and let them color. As they get older, we will probably start to buy cards to keep on hand when they don’t want to color anymore.
I think it is so important to send greeting cards to your loved ones! It is the little things that means so much!
Holy cow, i didn’t know that was a thing! I DO send out cards to friends, but I will push the event on mt FB today so that I can write letters tomorrow! Dang, I love stationary. I have a real hard time at Target because even their dollar section has great finds, and I picked out stationary sets for my birthday! We should def write more letters, i’m glad to have found a kindred spirit who still writes notes and cards!
I couldn’t agree more!! I’m sometimes bad about this, but am making a point to get better! Especially to family I don’t see on a regular basis and my grandma 🙂
I always stay surprised when I got greeting card via post mail. Today exerting is so virtual that when I got greeting card it reminds me on my childhood. Unfortunately, I don’t often send them but, maybe I should I always enjoyed in writing down the message.
I used to make personalized greeting cards several years ago. It was so much fun making them. Now I never send them!
I had no clue that there was such a thing as send a card day. I really love the idea of just sending a card just because! I think I’ll participate in this from now on.
I love receiving hand written cards! Such a great personal touch.
April
Sending greeting cards like this is so much more personal to let someone know that you care. I absolutely love this idea!
Greeting cards are definitely an excellent way to let someone know you care about them. It’s important to do keep in touch with those you love and who are important to you. I just need to make sure I keep track of dates better.
Great post! I definitely agree, I love sending cards. When I was little and before technology was what it is today, my sister and I were pen pals because she lived in London and we’d always send cards and letters. I only prefer technology because my handwriting is so bad. But it’s nice to get cards.
Love greeting cards.When my mom was alive she used to send me 1 or 2 monthly. I always looked forward to getting them and she looked forward to the ones I sent her.
This is such a sweet notion. Its sad, I think, how disposable our digital world is. We can connect faster than ever, but it’s so ephemeral.
Both set’s of my Grandparents still send me cards with handwritten letters inside for holidays. I love them and have a special folder in my filing cabinet for them all. Technology is taking over but this is such a wonderful topic. There really is great value in handwritten letters and receiving actual mail!
Aw, I totally agree. Greeting cards are so special. I take it one step further by hand-making my cards! I think that adds even more meaning.
xo,
Joi
http://joi-knows-how.com
I love greeting cards! In fact, I sent two out just this week. I’ve been making my own greeting cards since I was a child. Now that I’m older, I don’t have as much time to make them, but I love giving someone a card that’s homemade especially for them. It’s so much more meaningful than receiving a text message or a note on your FB wall. Thanks for the reminder!
Maybe it’s because I am from the South, but I am so into greeting cards. I love sending thank yous, and happy holidays, and just because greeting cards. They are so super nice to give and to receive.
Thanks for sharing! x
Michelle
dressingwithstyle-s.com
I love sending and receiving handwritten cards, birthday cards, notecards, and post cards! My kids all have a box of their most important cards, notes from their teachers ect. The written word really matters. My grand daughter who is 3 saves the postcards I send her and then brings them too me. She says, “Nana, you sent me these cards because you were thinking about me”. So cute, but they matter. Great post!
I’m a big fan of greeting cards and I send or give to family or friends on any special occasion or even when there isn’t one. I think is much more thoughtful than a text or an e-card. Thanks so much for writing this post, it really resonates with me.
aawhh i didn’t know that feb 7th was ‘Send a Card to a Friend’ day. lol u really do learn something new everyday. these are the cutest ideas ever. I can’t wait to try them out on my loved ones. thank you xx
I love receiving cards especially when i was young but nowadays cards are not trending now because we people now has a gadgets to have more communication. But i would love to receive again.
I really enjoy receiving and sending cards! Because you are right, with all this technology around us, we tend to lose the personal touch that a lot of people like and appreciate. I will continue to send hand-written notes to loved ones and hopefully, I shall keep receiving them. Thanks for the post!
I love receiving cards and always make an effort to send them for birthdays! It’s definitely a dying tradition x
I really need to be better about sending cards. I always send thank you cards though.
My mother sends cards to my kids and they love it. I appreciate it as well. Two of them are young so email means nothing to them and it just would be nice to keep it that way for as long as possible. Sometimes a card is so unexpected it’s a delight to have been thought of.
I love this post so much because I am a HUGE greeting cards person!!! I must have over 100 of them collected over the years. It is so important to sometimes find the right words to show people just how much they mean to you.
xx, Kusum
I actually have a similar post in the content calendar about going back to paper to make a statement! I love this post.
I really miss hand written letters! I remember in class passing notes with friends. I have a ton of note from old friends I still have. I also keep all cards I receive. They are so much more personal than texts. In highschool I had a little mail box I made to put on my door. Once in a while someone in the house would leave me a little note. And when I graduated and all my family came out for my graduation they all slipped a note in my mailbox when I wasn’t looking. Then after graduation I realized my mailbox was full of motivational letters! It was the best thing ever.
I totally agree with you and I think sending card is another way to speak our mind and express our feeling to friends and family.
I just started this year!! We moved and I was feeling disconnected so I started sending card short birthdays, mothers day fathers day just because and thank you. The reaction was so positive!! People were excited to get the card in the mail and it was impactful! I have even received a few cards and they mean so much to me.