The 10 joys of getting cards in the mail
You reach into your mailbox to pull out the day’s postal delivery. A few bills, ugh. A mailer from a local dentist. And there it is. A square-ish envelope, a friend or relative’s name on the return address. And a little thrill shoots through your system.
Someone thought enough to send me a personal card, you think. Maybe you know the reason. Even better, maybe there is no reason. A “just because card.” Either way, someone wants to share a personal moment with you. Short of finding out you won the local school raffle, is there a better piece of mail to brighten your mailbox?
Exactly why is it so glorious to receive a personal card in the mail? Let’s break it down.
1. They’re a rarity.
Think of how many texts, emails, chat messages and social media posts fly in and out of our digital devices on any given day. They’re as common as a yawn, right? But how often does someone bother to send out a personal greeting card in the mail, just for you?
Cards are special deliveries. Their very rarity give them more weight and substance than an ephemeral text. You don’t know exactly when the card will arrive in the recipient’s hands, but you know that somewhere in the near future, a warm, fuzzy feeling is going to wash over that person.
2. They’ve never been more important.
Even before the pandemic became our new normal, loneliness and anxiety were commonplace in our world. Now, at a time when the daily interactions we took for granted have become sparse, we’ve never been hungrier for connections with the people we care about.
“It makes sense that so many of us are still seeking hope or humble encouragement in the form of a $5 piece of folded paper,” explained Caroline Cox in a New York Times opinion piece. “Something that can last as long as our desire to have it as a keepsake.”
3. They transport us.
A picture postcard image can transport us to a sandy beach or deep into the woods. A tranquil or inspirational card can bring on a moment of zen. A well-chosen card takes us to another place or time, evoking a powerful experience. And in that moment, you’re not standing in your kitchen or family room. You’re wherever the sender wants to take you. It’s a brief, but welcome vacation of the mind.
4. They’re tactile.
Most of us take in the bulk of our information on a range of screens. They’re flat, small and overly familiar. But how often do we actually hold something printed on a beautiful card stock, whether it’s textured, colored or bedazzled with ornamental detail? Cards are a physical, visceral piece of communication that feels good in our hands.
5. They’re emotional.
The person sending you a personal card wants you to feel something. Loved. Revered. Appreciated. Celebrated. Even though the two of you aren’t in the same place when the recipient reads it, a card can deepen a relationship, especially when you send cards beyond birthdays and holidays. The world stops for a moment, and the sender stays on your mind.
6. They can’t be erased.
Nothing against the here-today-erased-tomorrow premise behind Snapchat, instant messenger, etc., but they just don’t have staying power. In most cases, little thought was put into them. But a card has lasting value.
“We have texting, email, WhatsApp, social media and numerous other means to constantly keep in touch,” explained Cox. “Nevertheless, cards, in their own analog, inherently unhurried nature, endure.”
7. They can be displayed.
It’s a rare workspace or kitchen bulletin board that doesn’t have at least one or two cards affixed to it. A stunning vista of some beautiful location. A quippy line. A birth announcement. Cards are instantly sharable with anyone who enters your space.
8. They can be collected.
Any shoebox will do. Or it could be a keepsake box for the express purpose of holding onto your favorite cards. But most women, and a surprising number of men, get nostalgic about thoughtful or meaningful cards, and hold onto them.
“I’ve loved greeting cards since I was a child. I never throw them out if I receive one,” said Barrie Lazarus, owner of a greeting card startup who spoke about wanting young people to appreciate the value of physical cards in an NPR article. “I want to make America greet again.”
An older gentleman I wouldn’t have pegged as a softie recently pulled out a hearty stack of cards and notes he’d collected over the years. He also leafs through them from time to time. Cards are easy to hold onto and they bring back warm memories every time you reread them.
9. They appeal to every age group.
As soon as a child is old enough to rip open a birthday card, they love getting colorful, sing-songy cards in the mail. And it’s no secret that older people love snail mail. For decades, it was all they knew. No technology will ever replace the appeal of a well-timed card for people of any age.
10. They also bring joy to the giver.
When you send a card, you get to imagine the smile, the surprise, the “Awww” the receiver is likely to feel. The joy it sends out has a boomerang effect — it comes back to you, the person who sent the card.
“The more you reach out (through cards and letters), the less lonely you yourself become,” said clinical psychologist Ursula Whiteside in a recent Guideposts article. And for a handful of dollars, that’s a pretty big win for both parties.
If you have a greater desire to send cards than time to do it, Notes to Brighten sends out a card created for aging seniors every week, signed off by you. It’s an easy, affordable way to enjoy all the benefits of card giving. To learn more, visit notestobrighten.com.
