March 29, 2021 — In Cardie Yoga yesterday, instructor Paola dedicated most of the class to heart-opening poses. “I sense we need this,” she said. “People seem to be feeling more or less disconnected these days. We’re not feeling seen, we’re not feeling heard. There is a lot of animosity and, rather than listening to one another, we’re busy thinking about what we want to say next. Let’s take time today to open our hearts to understanding and acceptance. And when class ends, we’ll take our open hearts out into the world.”
I remember from my years as a music teacher (prior to joining Cardthartic), observing how kids learn to put up walls and close their hearts. In elementary school, kids are still wide open. They love easily and they forgive easily. While they are aware of the differences between their classmates and themselves, they don’t let those differences hold them back from playing together, enjoying each other.
It’s in middle school that most kids start to close off. With their new self-awareness comes a need to belong. To fit in. Cliques are formed, and there are certain kids they determine they can’t be seen with, simply because those kids are different. This is when they begin to mimic the words and opinions of their parents, their peers, and their idols, and start to exclude and define people as “other.”
If we’re not conscious of it, that closing of our hearts to others, to differences, and to unknowns, is something we can continue to do for the rest of our lives. Have you heard people talk about the loss of innocence and how they wish we could go back to how we were as kids? I wish I could remember where I read, “Ignorance is learned. Innocence is lost, but not forgotten.”
So here’s a little heart-opener for you, Cardies, if you’re game: Close your eyes, stretch your arms out wide and as far back as they’ll go. Take a few deep breaths, bring your hands to your belly and — still with eyes closed — picture yourself as the kid you once were. Feel yourself back at the age of innocence. Try to see that little Cardie you used to be, hehe, perfecting your signature for cards you made for friends and family :) Can you see your eyes sparkle and hear yourself giggling about nothing and everything? Now, still at that same age, can you also see yourself loving easily and forgiving easily? And can you feel a loving smile curl up on both sides of your mouth while you’re doing this?
As adults, we can either shrink away and close our hearts, or we can choose to open those hearts wide and actively put love out into the world. Betcha’ know what we’re going to choose, Cardies! Below find a bunch of our favorite love and friendship cards and — now through Friday, April 10, 2021 — you’ll find that the first card you put in your cart @ cardthartic.com will be FREE. (And if it’s only one card you put in your cart, that’s okay, too.) This is Cardthartic’s way of helping you give one more person the pleasure of hearing from your own open heart, “I see you.”
Months ago, Paola introduced us to this beautiful Sanskrit mantra and its meaning that feels so right for today.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
“May all beings everywhere be happy and free. And may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”
We see you, Cardies, and we appreciate you.
Felicia Elenum
Cardie Community Manager
So good to be reminded to open our hearts every day. Thanks, Felicia!