Send a Card on National Send a Card Day

This Thursday is National Send a Card Day. Personally, I’m a huge fan of cards. I like sending them, and I like receiving them. I love the ones with cute animals on the front, and the ones that have a pop-up scene inside. Some cards even sing and play music when you open them. My mom bought one for my grandma’s birthday last year, and my grandma said she nearly had a heart attack when she opened it.

It Doesn’t Take a Special Occasion to Send a Card

National Send a Card Day is obviously a great day to send a card, along with birthdays and days when you need to thank someone, but don’t feel restricted by special occasions. You can send a card (or note) any day of the year to remind someone how awesome they are, or to thank them just for being your friend. Sending a card is a great way to demonstrate your appreciation for someone. A neighbor, a teacher, or anyone in a service position is likely deserving of a card right now.

I like to keep two sets of stationery on hand. One is a set of thank-you cards that say “A Thousand Thanks” (a phrase Shakespeare invented) because I’m studying literature in grad school. The other is a set of rainbow cards, because I really like rainbows. Don’t be afraid to express yourself, along with your heartfelt feelings of gratitude, in a card. Stickers, doodles, and lots of color are good ways of personalizing a card and making it even more exciting to read.

Choosing the right card can be an overwhelming task when faced with all the options at your local stationery store. Rest assured, it’s more difficult to pick the wrong card than the right one. Obviously, a card that says “Happy birthday, Grandma” is a poor choice when you’re sending your neighbor your best wishes that his dog will get well soon, but as long as you can find your way to the appropriate category you shouldn’t have too much trouble. One cautionary piece of advice: know your audience before selecting a card that features edgy humor to avoid offending someone. Even if you’ve heard your boss joke that way with his friends or peers, it may not be appropriate coming from you, and no one wants to be on awkward terms with a superior they pass in hall every day.

If you can’t think of anyone to send a card to on National Send a Card Day, or if you have some brand new stationery or pencils and you need a way to use them, I hope you’ll consider sending a card to a soldier. Military.com has several ways you can do this. I hope you have a happy and productive Send a Card Day! Let us know who you sent a card to in the comments.