Beyond the card.. to the message, the thought

What if you run out of cards? Would you just wait for more—the next catalyst. I see it growing into what about re-using cards for that which they were not meant for. Could we expand our thoughts, could we conger up something else.. that means more, makes us laugh, see new perspectives. Search, find, belief. Would a chirstmas card joy bring you everyday joy. Would you make sense of it? Would there be fresh understanding. What if it wasn’t cards, with messages. What if it was one word. Your word. Others words. Scraps of paper. Randomness. A grocery list. A peek into your life. Everyday, ordinary becoming extraordinary. Is that what we are looking for? Not answers but direction, insight. Peering to reality, the real heart of it all—soul. Yes, soul. Facts of one life become impacts of others. Relatable = heartfelt. Maybe that’s the best type of touch. As real as it gets. A part of you, left for someone. A piece. A piece of you passed on to another to strike connection. Almost touching right? Catchy you think or way off? Something definitely could be here. What if not your words, your list, your fragments of life. It could be magazine article recycled, an ad that caught your eye, a bookmark

you read your favorite book with, a wrapper from your favorite childhood candy...I’ll sleep on it. So many things to think about to share.

Then I come to envelopes. How do we rid them? For the environment sake. Or toward the simplification of life as well. Hell, let’s eliminate stamps altogether. But that will not work, right? if you think I am reaching here to put writers out of business, why put strain on postal workers. Postcards have been effective in this elimination of an element.. Ooooo re-gift postcards. Yes.. or what about cutting them in half. Smaller post cards- more to give. And intriguing, to receive half and wonder... push yourself to imagine what the other side or half looks like. Boost brain power. Stay intellectually fit. I read so many articles about how its not just important to keep your body fit, we have to focus on keeping our mind it tip top shape. Use it or lose it. In the days of Sudoko or Brain Age & protein shake & brain boosters in our Jamba Juice…as we reflect back to Crosswords (wait don’t we still use those, still crawling with them a Patina?) Can we take a more creative, less dull approach? Can you imagine they way we can grow—stretching the imagination could add years to our life, probably (not ridiculous, believe--) fight dementia, Alzheimers’. Expand thoughts, alter views. Imagination is powerful, right? Strengthen minds. Stretch our brain, our thinking. It’s funny what could come of receiving half of something. I picture a little child and how they can run wild with thoughts. I sometime envy the creativity, “sky as the limits.” But I value my experience. But has experience, tragedy, life had us boggled down to a one track. Could it bled into other parts of our lives. Further happiness beyond the gesture we are passing. Borderline a more fulfilled life. All through this concept. Maybe that’s a stretch, a far-fetched tale but this is my thoughts, my idea, a creation. Call me crazy weird but you can’t help but wonder… decide. All the options.. I mean it just spirals out of control. Possibilities that won’t come to me or you for years. Allowing us to live longer for years as our brain power becomes greater and we let the planet live longer. Live on forever.. save the world forever…

You may ask digital is already out there. E-cards, emails. I admit I send ecards now rather than paper cards. Convenient, can be the day of ;) FREE new different fun unique digital-aged “with-the-times”-- still meaningful, appreciated..heard. But my pitch is what about the stuff that is out there and is being tossed aside. Let’s take care of it. Yes, virtual has become the route to take, the band wagon to jump… but is print more personal. You decide I guess. My thought is—hear me out—how do you re live what is already out there, it’s undeniable it exists. Don’t ignore, embrace. Let’s take responsibility for the stuff we have made and left out in the world. We recognize through ads and commercials the landfills that pile with plastic…Why create more clutter in the world?--I have enough of it. I need d-clutter in my life! Let’s build the world in a new light. Not the light of we have painted… fix the mess we have made. I don’t know. It will catch on. I know it.

Care to challenge, one card at a time

Recently I have been thinking about the greeting cards I receive.. and the greeting cards I buy. And about the cost they are.  So expensive. And I think- "they are just going to throw this away." I could put that $4.00 + tax towards the gift I am giving. Or save a little pocket change. But pocket change- yay, right! These things cost $3.95, $2.50, $4.20 a pop.. need I say more? Musical cards-- forget it. I am not trying to put the Greeting Card makers out of business-- I just am struggling with all the purchases of these cards. And yes, we have those "savers" out there. In fact, my mother saves all her christmas cards. She is smart like that, using them at Christmas to spruce up a wrapped present or even that paper bag she wrapped in. She just cuts the front off, with its decked out Christmas tree or Santa's sleigh and tiny reindeer. And she tapes it on a package, just like that. "To Natasia, From Santa." A great way to use them. Sometimes she even cuts them to show the white part with the red greeting saying"Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas." Perfect for a gift tag. But does it stop there? Yes, what happens.. we throw them a way with the wrapping paper. Gone. Sure we could recycle them to be in the next recycled greeting card. Yes, what a cool concept. But guess who will be in the store paying double the price of a normal card for it. Am I paying for the processing to save the environment? Aren't we paying enough in our lungs and our soul? Do I really need to whip out my credit card to show I care.. care for a friend, care to save the world. No. 

People still appreciate a good "snail" mail. No matter what the internet brings it will never erase the joy of getting a hand written letter or card in your mailbox amongst a pile of bills, junk mail, flyers, ads, the latest and greatest new restaurant's menu. I light up every time. Just today I got a card in the mail-- with stickers on it. 25 years old and I am not going to lie. Those stickers made me smile. And what to my surprise, a greeting card. Just to say hello. No occasion-- the best kind. But there are birthday cards, and christmas cards, and note cards, fathers day, mother's day, grandparent's day, valentine's day, st patrick's day, easter. You name it CARDS. lots and lots of cards. Have a baby, here's a card. Getting engaged? Have a card. Bar Mitzvah? Here I wasted $2.50 on this to say I care. Now I am not degrading the care part. And I certainly am not saying stop all card transactions and card sending. I love it, I like it, I will continue it. But how about re-gifting these greeting cards. A new form of recycling a card. Passing it on. Like "pay it forward" but re-giving the same. Showing the care you just received because it's that good. And you care for them, your wallet, and your world.

Would you be offended? I wonder this. To get a used dirty card? A previously written on card. Second hand. Already enjoyed..something that was said to someone else. Does it loose its meaning? Is it cheap? Will you think less of me? Or will you admire me. Would you think it's smart?

Isn't there something fun in that? Interesting? Passing on a greeting card. Seeing a message heard round the US, round the world. I mean wouldn't that be a greeting card writer's dream? Okay maybe I am out of control but think of it. Cards get out dated, the run off the shelf, new cards fill old cards spot. They say different things. But this way a saying could live on. Touch so many people. Haven't you ever found a great or hilarious card you almost didn't want to give up or send because it was that good. Guilty as charged-- I know you have. Besides a candle shop smelling the worst and best candles, I can't think of anything more to do in an aisle that crack up and be touched by these cards. lame right? hey, i think its cool :) You know you do it too. And I know you have those cards. I mean I even read them to good friends before I give them. I hoard them until the last possible minute or honestly some I can't wait to give away. Can't we pass those great cards on? Is it true that the most hilarious card will stop with you? Or the way you will be touched by that sentiment will roll off your tongue to be lost in the air and headed for the trash. Is that what our thoughts are-- trash? Okay maybe I am over dramatic and a little crazy but you gotta admit it could be a thing. The next thing.  I have to make it catch on. I need your help-- you interested? I want you to want it just like me.. to get fired up.. to send your first card. Thanks for listening.