For those of us who order things online way more than we should, we know that feeling of excitement that surrounds the anticipation of waiting for that beautiful brown box to appear on our doorstep. It may just be one of the absolute best feelings ever.
While waiting to receive and then receiving and opening packages is pretty darn fun, for many people, receiving handwritten cards can be just as satisfying.
Cards through the mail are dying, I know. Why go out, buy a card, write something and then walk to your mailbox to send it when there are millions of different options for sending cards electronically and probably for a lesser cost that you can send without getting off of the couch?
Cards and notepads and basically anything paper that you have to write yourself with a pen are things of the past, but do they really have to be? Sending letters has been such a crucial part of society’s history, why can’t we wait for a little bit longer before we obliterate it?
You’ve probably heard this before, but there truly is something so much more satisfying and meaningful about receiving a handwritten card in the mail or writing an actual list on a notepad yourself. There are some really cool stationery artists/designs out there, and I’m convinced that no digital message will ever compare sentimentally to a handwritten one.
A card with a design from an artist that’s not completely computer-generated with a loved one’s own handwriting is thoughtful and sentimental, whereas an electronic card is nice, but just not the same, and it never will be. With to-do lists, the same essential concept applies, where your own handwriting on pretty paper will actually mean more to you than just writing it down on your phone, and, to add, you are scientifically more likely to accomplish things on a physical to-do list that you wrote with a pen than you are to accomplish with some typed list on your phone.
When holidays or birthdays come around, I know that I can expect texts from my friends and then actual cards from my grandparents, but I would love to receive actual cards from my friends, rather than texts. I personally try to send or give all of my friends and family actual cards, because I know that it will bring them more joy than a text. They will sit there and say, “Wow, she actually took the time to write something nice when she could’ve just spewed out a text in a few seconds.”
Texts are extremely convenient, I acknowledge that, but I believe that sending a card can connect you and your friends/family members that are far away more than a text ever will. You may be killing some trees, but a few cards here and there that genuinely make your friends and family smile are worth it.
So, I am totally in support of the “bring back the stationery” movement. Who wouldn’t support putting a little extra effort into something that is more meaningful and can make you more productive?
