| Think of the last wedding you attended; the last | | | | important that how you choose to say it, and |
| time you celebrated a friend's birthday, or the | | | | while an uplifting message of strength or faith is a |
| birth of their child. Chances are, a greeting card | | | | common choice, even the smallest personal touch |
| was involved. Whether you grabbed it last minute | | | | can adds an element of authenticity that makes it |
| from your local drugstore or carefully perused the | | | | special. Patients suffering from cancer are |
| aisles of Hallmark, it's likely that there was a | | | | understandably prone to depression, as they're |
| section geared toward whatever occasion or | | | | experiencing many changes and are likely in some |
| situation you were acknowledging. But what if | | | | pain, especially if they're undergoing chemotherapy |
| there's not? | | | | or radiation treatments. With this in mind, sharing |
| Despite the growing number of greeting card | | | | a recent anecdote or recalling a funny memory |
| sub-categories and a marketable awareness of | | | | from the past is a welcome distraction from the |
| people's needs in our diverse world, it's still a | | | | seriousness of their current situation. |
| potential challenge to find just the right way to | | | | While its important to not appear insincere or |
| express ourselves, particularly when touchy or | | | | callous, a close friend or relative will likely |
| taboo subject matter is involved. The best | | | | appreciate a little dose of bedside comedy. If |
| example of this is a terminal illness or a grave | | | | you're dealing with an open-minded friend (who |
| medical condition, such as AIDS or cancer. | | | | has begun losing their hair yet proudly maintains |
| While it's true that AIDS isn't the death sentence | | | | their sense of humor), you can joke about how |
| it once was and many types of cancer can be | | | | they need to hurry up and get better, as the local |
| treated and overcome, those diagnosed with | | | | hair salon is abuzz with what kind of wig they |
| these diseases knows that at the end of the day, | | | | should get! |
| they're fighting for their lives. This may be a loved | | | | The important thing is to let the person know |
| one, a co-worker, or perhaps someone from | | | | what they mean to you and that you are thinking |
| your past that you haven't spoken to in a while. | | | | of them. Giving and receiving a card is touching |
| You want to let them know you're thinking of | | | | and timeless, and it's not the time to offer |
| them; so how do you wish them well in a way | | | | unsolicited medical advice or unwittingly provide |
| that is tasteful and appropriate? You may be | | | | false hope about an experimental cure that you |
| wondering how a flimsy greeting card, with | | | | recently heard about. It's the simplest of |
| someone else's words or drawings, possibly | | | | gestures, one that yields the biggest results -- |
| convey what you want to say? | | | | widened smiles and raised spirits. |
| The answer is that what you say is far more | | | | |