{Hi. I am a stay at home mom and writer to two boys who occasionally accepts money and products in exchange for my post. Sometimes, you’ll see * which means, this is a sponsored post. While I choose these products carefully, feel free to skip it. P.S. keep reading for a special discount code for The Inspiring Bee readers. Okay that’s it. Let’s get back to our *sponsored post by Basic Invite.}
As a self-proclaimed empath and highly sensitive person, I suck at small talk. To be honest my greatest fear is leaving this earth without tough, meaningful conversations with the people I love most. While it still makes my palm sweat and eye flinch to think of telling someone, “I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life” up close, I’m completely comfortable saying it on a card.
Since 2017 is the summer of more meaning, it’s apropos that this post is all about ways to capture a meaningful moment. I’ve been known to reconstruct stationery into things like gift tags, wedding bookmarks and Christmas ornaments, so it’s only natural that I came up with these:
- Reward good behavior. While my boys can’t read yet, I’m excited to one day tuck away personalized notes in their lunch bag or backpack with things like, “Hey I noticed you put the dishes away this morning and I wanted to tell you I appreciated it or you were so kind to your brother the other day I just wanted to let you know I noticed it.”
- To remember forever.
Imagine personalizing the above with words like, “Gratitude,” or “Memorable Moments,” and handwriting things like “Michael sat up for the first time 5.17.17,” or “Today, I finished my first novel/bought our first home/got married.” It can be added to a scrapbook or stuck inside a picture frame to treasure forever. - Send a letter to the future. Do you remember this video? Every time I watch it, I’m a soggy mess. I love the idea of writing letters on a real card that can be saved in a box and read by your kids when they’re older. This is also a great idea for a baby shower. You can personalize stationery with the name of the child and have guests write a letter to him or her.
- Lift someone’s day. Today, the cashier at a coffee shop saw me with my sons and said the words that completely changed my mood. “You’re doing such a good job mom!” How refreshing it was to get a sincere compliment instead of the more common eye roll and criticism. Personalize cards with, “Thank you,” “Good job,” or “Pass it forward,” and send out a statement like that one to a mom friend or an anonymous letter with a gift card to someone who really needs a boost. Life changer.
Let’s face it. We don’t always have time for grand gestures like flowers or expensive dinners to show our appreciation. But a handwritten card is still exciting as it’s always been. I have a tin of twenty year old letters, yellowed and wrinkled that are a time capsule reminding me who I was and what was most important to me at that time.
*If you’re like me and like to see things before you get it, especially when it’s something as personal as a card, Basic Stationery lets you order a preview sample. Sometimes I don’t need 500 cards, but want to send just one card or a dozen to loved ones. I like that you can do that and prices are affordable. If you’re interested check out their line of personal stationery here, and if you decide to order, you’ll get 15 percent off with the code 15FF51.
