Great Gloria Dougherty is proof positive that good things can come from the saddest of circumstances. Here is how we came to know and love Gloria.
The day after the unthinkable happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, on Valentine’s Day 2018, we sent a Cardie Newsletter that included a link to the story How Mental Health Professionals Speak with their Own Children About School Shootings. We heard from many Cardies who said simply, “Thanks, I needed this!” And then we received a far more impassioned email that read, “I am a long-time fan, and I buy Cardthartic wherever I can. But your message today has left me feeling hollow.
“While I applaud helping parents/grandparents to offer comfort and solace, I wish you had also encouraged each to speak up, to call on Congress and local legislators to stop this madness. And, once the parents/grandparents have spoken up, they could share with the children, ‘This is what I did to try to stop this.’ We all need to speak out,”she said and signed off with, “FYI, Sirhan Sirhan was a neighbor, walking by my front door on his way to kill Robert Kennedy. That was in 1968; I’ve been at this a long time. With kindest wishes, Gloria Dougherty.”
Wow. Admiring how forthright, committed, and caring she was, our founder emailed Gloria right back. Jodee explained that “Cardthartic generally takes more of a supporting vs. activist role,” to which Gloria replied, “Thank you for your thoughtful and prompt response. While sad, I appreciate it. I know I am not alone, but feeling helpless just the same.” Next, she wrote Jodee, “A few days have passed since our email exchange. Still feeling despondent, I went to the Post Office and purchased 150 postcards … I addressed them in batches of three for our members of Congress, and then sent a heartfelt message to neighbors and friends: ‘Would you like some postcards to send your own words to Congress re: gun control/safety?’ Well, the cards have literally flown out of my hands — people are asking for 5-10 sets! Tomorrow I will go buy more. Our notes may not accomplish anything but, when I see that I am not alone, that gives me hope.”
A few days later Gloria reported, “My postcard project is now up to 250 sent. And counting! I think the participation shows that my friends and (I hope/pray) most people feel desperate to do something. The gun issue is just huge and feels overwhelming, but I hope there is a crack of light shining here. Kindest wishes and hopes for us all.”
Gloria’s passion and persistence stuck with Jodee, and it persuaded her that we just had to find a supportive way to support Gloria’s efforts, while staying true to our own mission of Honoring Emotions. She came up with a Please Listen postcard left blank on the back so people could express their own feelings to legislators, in their own words. She called Gloria and found her “writing another batch of 50!” When the dynamo heard the plan to give these FREE to anyone who would use them, she grew silent for a moment before saying, “Well, it’s a good thing you can’t see me right now, because I’m sobbing. We might REALLY do something here.”
In the years since, Gloria’s campaign has inspired Cardies to request and send more than 45,000 Please Listen postcards to their legislators across the land. “My birthday is coming up,” Gloria shared with us one year, “and, as a gift, my husband Ron is buying me 1,000 more stamps! Thank you,” Gloria has said (again and again ❤️). “We can never give up, and my team is growing!”
It’s been a pleasure and privilege to publish other messages by Gloria on cards over the years. Her intention is never to write cards, per se, but rather to express what’s in her big, eloquent heart. Her pride and joy, though, are those Please Listen postcards. Any individual or group who would like a quantity FREE for your own local or national outreach on causes important to you, simply add-to-cart and they’ll be on their way pronto. Pen your own passion on those postcards and do Gloria proud!
Great Cardie Quote by Gloria
Cards with Messages by Gloria
Great Gloria Dougherty is proof positive that good things can come from the saddest of circumstances. Here is how we came to know and love Gloria.
The day after the unthinkable happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, on Valentine’s Day 2018, we sent a Cardie Newsletter that included a link to the story How Mental Health Professionals Speak with their Own Children About School Shootings. We heard from many Cardies who said simply, “Thanks, I needed this!” And then we received a far more impassioned email that read, “I am a long-time fan, and I buy Cardthartic wherever I can. But your message today has left me feeling hollow.
“While I applaud helping parents/grandparents to offer comfort and solace, I wish you had also encouraged each to speak up, to call on Congress and local legislators to stop this madness. And, once the parents/grandparents have spoken up, they could share with the children, ‘This is what I did to try to stop this.’ We all need to speak out,”she said and signed off with, “FYI, Sirhan Sirhan was a neighbor, walking by my front door on his way to kill Robert Kennedy. That was in 1968; I’ve been at this a long time. With kindest wishes, Gloria Dougherty.”
Wow. Admiring how forthright, committed, and caring she was, our founder emailed Gloria right back. Jodee explained that “Cardthartic generally takes more of a supporting vs. activist role,” to which Gloria replied, “Thank you for your thoughtful and prompt response. While sad, I appreciate it. I know I am not alone, but feeling helpless just the same.” Next, she wrote Jodee, “A few days have passed since our email exchange. Still feeling despondent, I went to the Post Office and purchased 150 postcards … I addressed them in batches of three for our members of Congress, and then sent a heartfelt message to neighbors and friends: ‘Would you like some postcards to send your own words to Congress re: gun control/safety?’ Well, the cards have literally flown out of my hands — people are asking for 5-10 sets! Tomorrow I will go buy more. Our notes may not accomplish anything but, when I see that I am not alone, that gives me hope.”
A few days later Gloria reported, “My postcard project is now up to 250 sent. And counting! I think the participation shows that my friends and (I hope/pray) most people feel desperate to do something. The gun issue is just huge and feels overwhelming, but I hope there is a crack of light shining here. Kindest wishes and hopes for us all.”
Gloria’s passion and persistence stuck with Jodee, and it persuaded her that we just had to find a supportive way to support Gloria’s efforts, while staying true to our own mission of Honoring Emotions. She came up with a Please Listen postcard left blank on the back so people could express their own feelings to legislators, in their own words. She called Gloria and found her “writing another batch of 50!” When the dynamo heard the plan to give these FREE to anyone who would use them, she grew silent for a moment before saying, “Well, it’s a good thing you can’t see me right now, because I’m sobbing. We might REALLY do something here.”
In the years since, Gloria’s campaign has inspired Cardies to request and send more than 45,000 Please Listen postcards to their legislators across the land. “My birthday is coming up,” Gloria shared with us one year, “and, as a gift, my husband Ron is buying me 1,000 more stamps! Thank you,” Gloria has said (again and again ❤️). “We can never give up, and my team is growing!”
It’s been a pleasure and privilege to publish other messages by Gloria on cards over the years. Her intention is never to write cards, per se, but rather express what’s in her big, eloquent heart. Her pride and joy, though, are those Please Listen postcards. Any individual or group who would like a quantity FREE for your own local or national outreach on causes important to you, simply add-to-cart and they’ll be on their way pronto. Pen your own passion on those postcards and do Gloria proud!
Great Cardie Quote by Gloria
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