The image on the front of the card was a white lighthouse beaming against an orangey sunset and darkening lake. Although metaphors associated with lighthouses can seem almost overused, they capture the role this person played during an important point in my career—an illuminating presence and a signpost along the voyage. So, I selected the card and began to write.
The note wasn’t long, but it was earnest. I thanked her for taking the time to send me encouraging messages during an important career transition and for generously investing time and emotional energy into uplifting the young lawyers around her.
As I sealed the envelope, I happily remembered the kindness she had extended to me and felt joy in knowing that she would likely be surprised and touched to receive the card.
Although I frequently text and email expressions of gratitude, it had been quite some time since I sent someone a handwritten card.
Indeed, in an age in which AI can write, automate, and send messages for us, handwriting a card — in cursive no less — feels almost like a practice from a bygone era.
But handwritten cards carry a weight and significance that cannot be replaced by digital messages.
First, because people receive fewer handwritten cards, the ones they do receive stand out. Not surprisingly, studies show that revenue in the greeting card industry is declining. It’s not uncommon to walk into a retailer and find a decline in floor space dedicated to greeting cards. As such, handwritten cards feel more significant because they are shared less frequently.
Second, selecting, writing, and mailing a card requires more time than sending a text or email. While this does not negate the value of digital messages, as they still have their place and purpose, handwritten cards require senders to invest more time, which signifies the importance and priority of the message.
Finally, handwritten cards are keepsakes. My aunt has been sorting through my paternal grandparents’ possessions, now that they have both passed away. She recently sent me a stack of cards that they had saved throughout their lifetime. The stack included almost every card I had sent them in pristine condition, including a card I made when I was 4 years old.
Realizing that my grandparents treasured those cards and likely read them over and over was a tangible reminder that words can be given emotional and physical weight when they are memorialized in a handwritten card.
As we approach Thanksgiving, if you are able, I would encourage you to consider sending a handwritten card to someone within the legal profession who has positively impacted your career.
At a time when isolation and polarization are high, perhaps the lost art of handwritten cards may be a much-needed way of forging and reinforcing bonds in a profession that needs them now more than ever.
And, although these sentiments are not handwritten on a lighthouse card, please accept my gratitude for what you invest in our profession, how you serve your clients and others in your life, and your support of the Commission throughout the year. We appreciate you!
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