I am surely not alone when I say that when I was young I was more interested in the cash than the card. Most of the birthday cards I received were quickly discarded after seeing who it was from for the $10 tucked within the folded paper. My mom would (and still does) ask who the card was from to encourage us to read what it says and worry about the money or other gift secondly.
I find that this was a productive practice. We (my siblings) were taught to focus on the more meaningful part of a gift instead of the materialistic portion. I have found that this influenced me in a positive direction when I was younger and today. A handwritten card is more than just a piece of paper. It is a statement from the writer to the recipient that gives light into their lives and reveals a little bit of themself. I have found that heartfelt notes have much more impact than pre-made cards that can be found at the store.
The Mindset
Yesterday I was looking at some of the wedding invitations hanging on my fridge and had a realization. When I was young, about 10 years old, I didn’t care much for the content of the card and was more fixated on the gift that came with it. The card seemed to be just words, and holding onto the card for remembrance of an event seemed silly. I usually took any money and bought things like toys, candy, or pop. The card was just a vessel to carry the money and after it was empty it was tossed out.
I have come to the conclusion that I have either been programmed by my parents to enjoy cards or I have grown to enjoy getting a cards now at 25. The most recent cards that hit home are “Thank You” cards from weddings. Giving gifts to newlyweds is standard procedure, along with sending out “Thank You” cards. Though that is the case, I find myself having a deeper appreciation for the thought from the sender.
When my wife and I were wed back in 2016, we sent out thank you cards to those who attended or gave us gifts. For those who have done this, it can feel like a drag but is necessary to complete. We took the time to write each card by hand and sign them so that they were more heartfelt than a standard pre-made card. This is the style of “Thank You” that I received recently from our recently hitched friends.
As I have gotten older I have grown to appreciate “thank you” a lot more. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but it seems to be more important to me now than when I was younger. I work hard at my job, my marriage and friendships, and I greatly appreciate when others feel that they should retaliate with kindness. It isn’t easy trying to fit everything into our lives that we would like to accomplish. Having those around us feel that they need to tell us that they are thankful is powerful.
In Reality
Though I am not able to write notes to everyone who helps me, I appreciate everything they do. I am thankful for the times that we have fallen or seem to be on our way down and people jump in to help us without being asked. I am thankful for friends that want to spend time with me and my wife. It would be a little bit silly to write a “thank you” card to everyone in my life that makes me feel grateful, but they deserve it.
I think it is important for us to tell others that we appreciate them. In today’s society there are a lot of ways that we can send a message to people to give them information. We can send others a message on social media, text, email or call them. I don’t think that anything can replace the sincerity of a hand written note. So when someone writes one for you, don’t take it for granted. It’s more than just paper with ink.