21
Nov
GTD and Romance: Greeting Cards
The GTD methodolgies can be applied to any area of our life that needs some improvement; they aren’t just for the office. I’ve been practicing GTD for nearly two years now and as I become more adept at it I find more areas in which I can apply it’s principles.
My lovely wife Sandy frequently gives me “I Love You” and “I’m Thinking of You” cards. I really appreciate them and in the past I have displayed them in my home office so that I will see them frequently and be reminded of the love we share. The truth is that after I read them a couple times I don’t re-read them very often and actually don’t pay that much attention to them on display. We become numb to anything that we see on a regular basis. Although I meant well when I displayed them, it really wasn’t that practical.
Last weekend I took down all the cards that I currently had on display and sprinkled them throughout my tickler file. Each morning when I empty my tickler file I look forward to the possibility of receiving a new “I Love You” card from my sweetie! I find this to be a much better way to get more mileage out of the thought and effort that she puts into sending me a card.
Face it, our lovers spend quite a bit of time to find the perfect card, pay $3 to $5 for the card, and then pour their hearts out to us in it. Doesn’t their efforts deserve more than a single quick reading? Try this yourself and let me know if you appreciate your lovers efforts more! Wouldn’t you appreciate it if your lover did the same for the cards and letters you send?
Here’s what my husband does for me. He’s been doing this for several years now. Once a week, he goes in and does a big search of artists websites. He copies the pictures he likes (usually by screen capture), until he has enough for the week. Every day, he weaves some of the pictures together by creating a story to tie them together. He uses all this to create an html card for me each day. Now that he’s working, he’s dropped it down to a single image, but still makes the card for me. I read them each morning when I get up.
When he first started doing this, he printed the cards out and I have kept a stack of them. The html card is much better. It’s not meant to be kept or saved, just enjoyed for that one day. There have been times when I felt that this was too much work, but he loves doing them and I always enjoy reading them.
The key to a long, happy marriage (which we definitely have) is showing your partner how much you love and appreciate them, every day if possible. I’ve never doubted how my husband feels about me, thanks to those daily reminders.
November 30th, 2004 at 9:16 amNice, I had never thought of this but its awesome, of course our better halfs deserve that extra attention, thanks for the great tip !!
April 22nd, 2005 at 8:55 am