Nov 22, 2023 — Cardies, by the number of thoughtful cards you send year-round, it’s easy for those of us within Cardthartic to see what caring and all-around grateful people you are. So much so that I sense you’ll be as touched as I was by a most memorable exchange I had more than a decade ago now …
I’ve shared this story with our Cardie Community before. It was a conversation I had during a half-hour ride home from the airport. As I’d slipped into the back seat of his town car, I’d complimented the driver on how immaculate and comfortable it was. As handsome and polished as his vehicle, the man thanked me profusely, saying that not everyone noticed, much less paid him the compliment. Grinning at him in the rearview mirror, I acknowledged that I tend to take nothing and no one for granted. And that was all he needed to hear …
Sitting up a bit straighter and catching my eye, he spoke in an elegant, lyrical Haitian baritone, “I am the same. But not everyone sees things our way! I recently drove a man to a meeting 90 minutes away. For the first 45 minutes, I listened to him complain about everything from the traffic to the weather to the economy to the resort where he would be staying. He had only negative, thankless things to say. Finally, I could not take it anymore. I pulled over and turned to the man and said, ‘Sir, please stop. I can no longer listen to this. I am from Haiti where, a few years ago, hundreds of thousands died in less than a minute, and many now eat dirt. Dirt, sir. They have nothing more.
“I said to the man, ‘Please be grateful for all you have.’ I asked him, ‘Do you not see that you have the comfort of this car and the money to pay me a large amount for taking you in your expensive clothes to a very exclusive hotel? Can you not see how fortunate you are?’ I told him that sometimes I pray, ‘God, you have given me so much and for this I thank you. Please, whatever you plan to give me next, give it to those still living in my homeland, for they have so little.’ I said, ‘We are blessed, sir. May we now just be quiet and ride.’”
In the coming days spent with good people sharing good food, let’s honor that grateful Haitian and the great many people struggling throughout the world … let’s enjoy to the fullest all the pleasures of the peaceful time we have together, along with the sure sense that we are truly blessed in this country.
Thanks for being the sort of person who not only gets this, but lives it. Cardies, at Cardthartic, we see you as blessings through and through!
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Nov 22, 2023 — Cardies, by the number of thoughtful cards you send year-round, it’s easy for those of us within Cardthartic to see what caring and all-around grateful people you are. So much so that I sense you’ll be as touched as I was by a most memorable exchange I had more than a decade ago now …
I’ve shared this story with our Cardie Community before. It was a conversation I had during a half-hour ride home from the airport. As I’d slipped into the back seat of his town car, I’d complimented the driver on how immaculate and comfortable it was. As handsome and polished as his vehicle, the man thanked me profusely, saying that not everyone noticed, much less paid him the compliment. Grinning at him in the rearview mirror, I acknowledged that I tend to take nothing and no one for granted. And that was all he needed to hear …
Sitting up a bit straighter and catching my eye, he spoke in an elegant, lyrical Haitian baritone, “I am the same. But not everyone sees things our way! I recently drove a man to a meeting 90 minutes away. For the first 45 minutes, I listened to him complain about everything from the traffic to the weather to the economy to the resort where he would be staying. He had only negative, thankless things to say. Finally, I could not take it anymore. I pulled over and turned to the man and said, ‘Sir, please stop. I can no longer listen to this. I am from Haiti where, a few years ago, hundreds of thousands died in less than a minute, and many now eat dirt. Dirt, sir. They have nothing more.
“I said to the man, ‘Please be grateful for all you have.’ I asked him, ‘Do you not see that you have the comfort of this car and the money to pay me a large amount for taking you in your expensive clothes to a very exclusive hotel? Can you not see how fortunate you are?’ I told him that sometimes I pray, ‘God, you have given me so much and for this I thank you. Please, whatever you plan to give me next, give it to those still living in my homeland, for they have so little.’ I said, ‘We are blessed, sir. May we now just be quiet and ride.’”
In the coming days spent with good people sharing good food, let’s honor that grateful Haitian and the great many people struggling throughout the world … let’s enjoy to the fullest all the pleasures of the peaceful time we have together, along with the sure sense that we are truly blessed in this country.
Thanks for being the sort of person who not only gets this, but lives it. Cardies, at Cardthartic, we see you as blessings through and through!
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Beautifully said, Jodee. As a member of planet earth I was born in a war zone. I try to be grateful every day. I remember the men and women who died giving us freedom.
Teresa 🏴🇺🇸
We are especially grateful this year. My husband, Jim, and I were on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our flight home was in the evening of October 6th. Less than 18 hours later, the bombing in Israel occurred. We would never have made it out of Tel Aviv. Our hearts ache for the people in Israel and in the Gaza Strip. We are so blessed to live in America. Let us remember to pray for peace.
I am drawn to people that are thankful & kind and try my best to simply avoid those who are not.
Thinking of those currently suffering unimaginable loss in the world makes me realize this holiday of GIVING THANKS and being able to help others is especially critical.
We feel helpless because we can’t solve all the suffering. WE CAN solve suffering for some people or animals one donation or act of kindness at a time.
Perhaps on Thanksgiving we can each choose which charity we would like to give to on GIVING TUESDAY. “While Giving Tuesday happens every Tuesday, the annual celebration of generosity will happen on November 28, 2023. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.” Every little bit helps.
Recently I heard an interview with a woman who escaped Gaza and was back in the U.S. She said she felt guilty every time she ate, drank a cup of tea or took a shower knowing that so many people were living in deplorable conditions. I also feel guilty knowing how much we have and how little others make do with day after day. Let’s always be thankful for what we have and share our blessings for those without.
Hi, I finally saw your cards in a shop. It is in Geneva, Illinois. I was with my daughter and yelled out , “, Cardthartic, Cardthartic.” I was so excited to see them. I have only seen and bought them on line.
This is not really in response to your post, but I do appreciate what you said. I am writing this because I received an order from your company today. (By the way, I appreciate that you send the cards in boxes with tissue paper in them. I think I have probably already used one in which to wrap a Christmas present, using your tissue paper, and will probably do so again. Thank you for saving me that step!) The reason I am writing is that I received a card from my Fairy Godmother along with the cards I ordered. On the card is a quote from Cardie Linda Abercrombie – “Time never takes away the loss. It just leads us to the place where we can look back at the good times and smile.” That one hit me between the eyes. You see, this coming Sunday will be the 40th anniversary of my father’s death. Time has dulled the pain, but there is still sadness. This quote will help me deal with this anniversary and others in the future and will help me smile. Please thank Ms. Abercrombie for her wisdom and thank you for sharing it with me.
PS – I LOVE your cards!