The idea was inspired by a graphic designer named Marian Bantjes who creates new and special Valentine’s Day cards every year for her friends and one year she made individual cards for everyone she knew. The cards are neat and simple and I remember being so inspired.
Examples from Marian’s site. Click on an image to go to her site.
Check out these awesome Valentine letters she wrote in 2009.
And you, blogosphere friends, shall reap the rewards of my inspiration.
If you haven’t read Friday’s post on my fifth grade Valentine’s Day humiliation, go do so now. I’ll wait. If you have read it, then let me get to the heart of the plan – Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be for lovers anymore. It can, and should, be a day to say, “You, my friend, are awesome.”
And I’m prepared to say that to as many people as necessary.
The plan involves something from both you (the reader) and me (the blogger) in order to work. So here we go, ready?
Your mission:
Fill out the form on the link below. It will ask you for your name (first name, last initial is fine. So is an alias if you prefer.) It will ask you for either a mailing address or an email address. This is important: If you are a minor, you need your parents’ permission before giving your mailing address to anyone. Sorry guys. But anyone can give their email address.
My mission:
I’m going to create an individual card for every person who signs up. If you give me your mailing address, the card will be real and could be made with watercolor, markers, acrylic paint, or papercraft. If you give me your email address, it will be digital.
- At midnight on February 8th, I will no longer accept mailing addresses.
- On February 9th I’m going to drop all the real cards in the mail so that they reach their destination in time for Valentine’s Day.
- On February 12th I’ll stop accepting email addresses. On February 14th I’ll email out everyone’s Valentine Card.
- Each card will be unique – no two alike. Each card won’t mean “I love you” but it will mean “I think you’re awesome.” Because I do.
- On February 14th I’ll erase every address and email address I was given and they will not be used for any other purpose. This is a one time, Valentine’s Day is for everyone, subvert the message, Damn the man! Save the Empire! moment.
Bonus mission:
Pay it forward. Make cards or small gifts and send them out into the world. Give them to friends, coworkers, relatives, blog friends, forum friends, IM friends, Facebook friends, Twitter friends, and any other kind of friend you can think of. Give them to perfect strangers. This day, in some ways, can be harder than Christmas for some. It can be a lonely reminder. It can be filled with sadness, jealousy, anger, irritation, and disappointment. But isn’t February 14th a really great day to tell people they are awesome in their own way, whether they are coupled off or not? Share the love. Pass it on.