Someone who knows more about the true value of sending greeting cards to raise spirits and show support, during Thinking of You Week and beyond is Josie Wood, the founder of Heartful Cards.
After 27 years of helping others, as a counsellor and life coach, Josie is in no doubt that “although we may face different life challenges, underneath we all share similar fears”.
As Josie points out, those involved in providing counselling and coaching have something in common with those in the greeting card industry – the potential to provide “a powerful antidote to people’s fears, worries and concerns”.
Helping people to know and understand that they are loved and inspiring them to believe in themselves is, as Josie says, can change people’s whole outlook on life.
“One of the most impactful aspects of the greeting card industry is the voice it gives to those who are sending care and empathy to others in times of trouble,” says Josie, who herself has benefitted from their healing powers, especially just after the period when her husband was killed in a car crash just a year after they were married. “I was so touched by the heartfelt messages that came in waves through the post. It was the immense support I received from friends, family and trained professionals that was so crucial in helping me rebuild my life that it inspired me to train as a counsellor and coach so I could help others – and it also no doubt planted a seed that has become Heartful Cards all these years later.”
Having received positive reactions to the stream of messages of empathy and comfort Josie has posted on her social media channels those looking for a daily dose of encouragement, as well as from the recipients of the greeting cards featuring inspirational expressions she sent to clients, a few months ago, Josie took the decision to launch Heartful Cards, publishing her own heartfelt messages on cards.
“My partner had been saying for sometime, “You love writing those messages so much… why don’t you sell them as cards, then even more people can see them?” It seemed the perfect blend of my love of writing with my passion for helping people feel stronger, happier and more fulfilled, and so Heartful Cards was born,” says Josie who debuted at Harrogate Home & Gift in July. Her many years of experience as a therapist has meant that she is not short of inspiration.
“When I am writing the words for cards in the Support and Sympathy or Inspiration ranges I often just close my eyes, think of my clients and get a sense of what they would most like to hear that would be soothing or uplifting,” Josie reveals. For her other generally uplifting ranges Josie reveals that she imagines the person opening the card, “I ask myself what will put the biggest smile on their face and make them feel loved, happy and truly cared for.”
Josie has launched six new designs under Heartfelt Cards to coincide with Thinking of You Week.
Top: Josie Wood is channeling her many years as a coaching therapist now into her greeting card company, Heartful Cards.
