Sept 22, 2023 — A recent Harvard study asked retirees to name their number one challenge in retirement. What do you suppose it was? “Not being able to replace the social connections that had sustained them for so long at work.” So people don’t miss working, they miss the people!
Given that Cardies are generally big people-persons, we all know something about keeping connections strong our whole life long. After retiring from 32 years in education, Contributing Cardie Marilyn Steidle said to a friend, “I seem to be doing nothing all day and yet it takes me all day to do it!” As Marilyn later explained to us, “When my friend hooted and said, ‘That’s good! I’m gonna use that!’ I thought I might as well submit it to my favorite card company, as I know you like to publish messages written by your community members.” A new retirement card was born!
You’ll see below that — along with Marilyn’s fun design — we’ve curated a sampling of retirement designs. Now how about some tips for what to pen IN those cards? Here are three:
Acknowledge Accomplishments We’re all moving at such a fast pace that we sometimes don’t stop long enough to give ourselves credit for our successes, so it would be very affirming to write something like, “What a wonderful business you’ve built!” Or perhaps, “The department you worked so hard to organize must be such a source of pride.”
Support the Change Since, for many retirees, a life of relative leisure takes some getting used to (or totally stresses them out, as the case may be!), you might cheer them on by signing the card with, “Wishing you a smooth transition to more ‘Me Time.’” Or maybe, “It will be fun to see how you’ll redirect all your good energy!”
Reference a Wish It seems many people have the same particular pleasure in mind for their newfound free time so, to them, you’ll want to say, “Enjoy more play time with those beloved grandbabies!” Other people have a bucket list overflowing with travel plans so, to them, in your card you might write, “And you’re off to see the world!” The point is to make it clear that you really seeeee the person and respect what’s important to them in this next stage of their life.
Ha! After drafting the suggestions above, I called retiree Candy Clausell to ask if she found them helpful. This Contributing Cardie loves retirement living and has seven Cardthartic cards to her name, so I thought she’d be a great one to ask. Candy said, “Yes!” then added that the message she often scribbles in the retirement cards she sends is, “Here’s to more time to do … all those things you love to do.”
Sounds like a winning new card to me! Stay tuned. And enjoy a leisurely weekend.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Sept 22, 2023 — A recent Harvard study asked retirees to name their number one challenge in retirement. What do you suppose it was? “Not being able to replace the social connections that had sustained them for so long at work.” So people don’t miss working, they miss the people!
Given that Cardies are generally big people-persons, we all know something about keeping connections strong our whole life long. After retiring from 32 years in education, Contributing Cardie Marilyn Steidle said to a friend, “I seem to be doing nothing all day and yet it takes me all day to do it!” As Marilyn later explained to us, “When my friend hooted and said, ‘That’s good! I’m gonna use that!’ I thought I might as well submit it to my favorite card company, as I know you like to publish messages written by your community members.” A new retirement card was born!
You’ll see below that — along with Marilyn’s fun design — we’ve curated a sampling of retirement designs. Now how about some tips for what to pen IN those cards? Here are three:
Acknowledge Accomplishments We’re all moving at such a fast pace that we sometimes don’t stop long enough to give ourselves credit for our successes, so it would be very affirming to write something like, “What a wonderful business you’ve built!” Or perhaps, “The department you worked so hard to organize must be such a source of pride.”
Support the Change Since, for many retirees, a life of relative leisure takes some getting used to (or totally stresses them out, as the case may be!), you might cheer them on by signing the card with, “Wishing you a smooth transition to more ‘Me Time.’” Or maybe, “It will be fun to see how you’ll redirect all your good energy!”
Reference a Wish It seems many people have the same particular pleasure in mind for their newfound free time so, to them, you’ll want to say, “Enjoy more play time with those beloved grandbabies!” Other people have a bucket list overflowing with travel plans so, to them, in your card you might write, “And you’re off to see the world!” The point is to make it clear that you really seeeee the person and respect what’s important to them in this next stage of their life.
Ha! After drafting the suggestions above, I called retiree Candy Clausell to ask if she found them helpful. This Contributing Cardie loves retirement living and has seven Cardthartic cards to her name, so I thought she’d be a great one to ask. Candy said, “Yes!” then added that the message she often scribbles in the retirement cards she sends is, “Here’s to more time to do … all those things you love to do.”
Sounds like a winning new card to me! Stay tuned. And enjoy a leisurely weekend.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
The ‘tip’ that I share with retiring friends is to ‘Keep a weekly schedule’ and print the non-negotiable items you want to do each day in BOLD.
In my case, in the course of the week, that is 3 workouts at Planet Fitness and 3 long walks. My goal is to be as healthy as I can be for an old bird :)
Enjoy reaching YOUR new goals whatever they may be.
We so appreciate you always going the extra mile, Candy, and offering tips others can run with. Thank you! Here’s hoping you have some good play time on this weekend’s schedule.
Enjoyed all those tips Jodee. When we had our business, we would comment on how many customers just needed someone to visit with, that personal contact. Now that we’re retired, we are those people who start conversations with clerks, wait staff etc. Full circle.
You always put things in the most charming way, Mad! You’re a pleasure to read and know. Thank you.