When I was nine or 10, I announced to one of my friends that, if I could do two thing to change the world, I would first make everyone happy and then bring down the greeting card industry.
I think it’s safe to say that I have never successfully hidden my distaste for store-bought cards.
I have only shopped for greeting cards once. My mom sent me into the Dollar Tree around Christmastime with a request for around a dozen holiday cards. I stood in the aisle staring at my plethora of options, which all seemed the same to me. I distracted myself for a few minutes playing with all the song-playing or super funny cards (which were all twice as expensive as the normal ones) and then picked up cheaper options at random.
My problem with greeting cards is this:
When I open a birthday card or a graduation card, I know the words inside did not come directly from the individual who bought that card for me. Sure, she might have stood in some aisle and thought, “Oh, that’s sweet.” But a card that has only been altered by a “Love, So-And-So” communicates so little, other than the fact that this individual thought enough about you to buy and mail the card.
The worst thing to me is opening cards on graduation (for example) and receiving the same card multiple times. Though the duplication does not negate the thought behind the gift, for me the meaning carried by the actual piece of folded paper is cheapened.
Now, cards that carry personal, scribbled messages mean so much more to me. But at that point, I don’t know why someone would bother paying $2 for a pre-made card when they could simply write that note on a blank sheet of paper. I might be the only one, but I would rather get a birthday message written on an index card or a (preferably unused) napkin to anything with a Hallmark logo on the back.
Sure, the industry is beginning to wane. Technology is threatening to render greeting cards unnecessary and inconvenient in comparison to the free and instant options available online. Why buy a $2 card when you can simply write “Happy Birthday!” on a friend’s Facebook wall?
Needless to say, I am not in favor of online alternatives any more than their card-and-envelope predecessors. For me, there is simply not much meaning left in a ten word message sent across the Internet.
What would I prefer?
If you have someone you truly want to congratulate on an achievement or wish a happy birthday or express heart-felt condolences to, grab a piece of paper and spend five minutes writing them a note. In your own words. In your own chicken-scratch, fifth-grader handwriting. You don’t have to decorate the front or use glitter—in fact, please don’t.
If I were the one receiving that note, the effort and thought that someone put into writing a personal message would make me so happy.
Disclaimer: I am truly thankful for all the beautiful people in my life who have given me greeting cards over the years. I know the majority of you gave those cards to me with the sincerest and most heart-felt intentions, and that means the world to me.
