"A vocabulary of truth and simplicity will be of service throughout your life."
~ Winston Churchill
If you told me two years ago that I would ever make a case for e-cards, I'd have rolled my eyes. These days I try not to reject electronic means of communication blatantly because I know there's a very good chance I'll eventually change my mind. I liken myself to the Amish in this respect, I watch technology do its thing from a distance before I decide if it's ultimately good or bad for me. After a few years, the verdict on e-cards is: good. Don't get me wrong, they don't replace the letter (nothing does), but they do have a place. For sentimental value, I seat them above e-mails and Facebook wall posts, but below letters.
Case in point: My friend Sarah e-mailed me earlier this week and casually mentioned that she's pregnant. Writing back and saying "Congratulations" with six hundred exclamation points could not convey the joy I felt. I wanted to do something special but I also wanted to do it immediately. Thus I sent her an e-card. A few other reasons I find them valuable:
It's Instant: The only thing communication today has on communication of the past is speed. Yes, it's a big plus. If you remember someone's birthday the day of or you find out someone is pregnant or engaged, then an e-card allows for instant celebration.
Something is Better than Nothing: Often times, we have the best of intentions as far as sending actual cards, but we don't always get around to it. In this case, it's better to send an e-card than overlook the occasion.
It's Time for Something Different: There are people, such as my friend Patrick, who I write to often. He's always doing nice things for me, and therefore I'm always sending him thank you notes. This past weekend he treated me to a lovely dinner, and I thought I'd send him an e-card to change it up a little. The note I sent was from Paperless Post (link below)--a company that does an outstanding job of making e-cards look like actual cards!
It's Effective: I have laughed out loud at many e-cards. I've forwarded them to friends saying, "You have to see this!" No, you can't put them in a shoebox, but you can enjoy them once, twice, maybe even seven times. You can't go wrong with something that makes you smile.
Samara O'Shea is an author and professional letter writer. Visit her at LetterLover.net or follow her on Twitter.