The emotional thrill of receiving a handwritten envelope in the mail is both unique and shared. The handwriting on the outside of that envelope alone immediately provides a connection from the distant writer to the recipient, combined with anticipation of the message contained therein. That thrill, connection, and anticipation not only drives human relationships; it also maintains a functioning Postal Service in the US and around the world. Why else would we check our mailboxes every day, enabling the Postal Service to also deliver us other items in which we have less interest?!
“The pandemic, and the loss of human connections it so cruelly stole from us, certainly drove home the power of hand-written communications between friends and family. I can confidently say that greeting cards amp up that power further, combining powerful images and words with handwritten sentiments, even if the latter is just a signature.
“Elizabeth Cottrell and I share a belief in the power of a piece of mail to connect, comfort, encourage, and inspire—to create and strengthen that which is most important: human relationships. I recommend reading her book on how, when, and why to send a personal note, to help you harness this power. Most importantly, I encourage you to send a heartspoken card or note to a loved one today; the impact of that effort is likely greater than anything else you will do today.