I remember how back in the 2000s my dad would always pick out a nice card for my mom's birthday, and then she'd keep it in a drawer. Now everybody just writes "happy birthday!" in WhatsApp or Telegram. Is that considered less personal?
Cards were fashionable because there simply weren't any alternatives - you had to go to a store, pick one out, pay for it, and give someone a physical object. Now you can send a message in a second, and it's more convenient, but here's what's funny: when a card sits in a drawer, you find it and remember it every once in a while, but a message gets buried in your feed within an hour. Less personal? No, it all depends on what you write - a generic "happy birthday" from a mass mailing is one thing, but a heartfelt message in a messenger app is something completely different. It's just that now personality is expressed through words instead of choosing a pretty picture.
Digital cards are something a lot of people overlook as a middle ground. In 2026, there are apps like Postable or even Moonpig where you can send an actual card, but in digital form with beautiful design, maybe with video or music. A person receives it like a real gift, not like a quick chat message. It takes literally just a couple of minutes more than typing out text, but it feels completely different.
Honestly, I think it's less about personality and more about intentionality. When your dad used to go pick out a card back then, he was thinking about it beforehand, searching through all the options to find the right one. Nowadays people often remember a birthday at the last minute and immediately send a message. But if you give yourself a heads-up, send a nice digital card or even order a physical one through the mail - that's when you get that feeling of thoughtfulness that existed back then. Your mom probably would've remembered your dad's card not just because it was a physical object, but because he spent time and attention on it.
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