How to be the Birthday-Remembering Friend Everyone Wants to Have

(June 2010) – Everyone knows one, and everyone wishes they could replicate her thoughtfulness--a celebration maven! You know, the friend who always makes sure she recognizes your special day whether it is a birthday, anniversary, or important holiday.

So how do you become the person who always sends or says just the right thing? Check out these simple steps from our very own celebration mavens at Carlton Cards and you could be on your way to being the one everyone says, “How thoughtful! How did she remember?” about.

• The big first step… updating! This will probably be the most time consuming portion of your project, but it’s time to update your address book and birthday/anniversary list. However, with social networking sites and the ease of access to email, this previously exhausting job can be done at a much faster pace nowadays.

• Cross-reference: Consult a regular calendar for religious and commemorative holidays such as Mother’s Day, Remembrance Day, etc. that you’d like to recognize and mark which people you’d like to reach out to on those occasions.

• Organize to central location: Whether you decide to go with a regular paper calendar, a computer spreadsheet, or online reminder service (such as the one available through americangreetings.com, finding a way that works for you and your lifestyle is paramount.

• Select sending date: Some people find it easier to send all out all of their greetings monthly, some biweekly, and the very advanced try to time the arrival precisely on the special day—but let’s just save that goal for after you’ve refined your process.

• Take notes and shop regularly: Right before a birthday or major holiday, many people tend to clam up about what they need or want, but by taking notes throughout the year when they mention something, you can come up with just the right gift when the time comes. Also, regularly taking a walk through the greeting card aisle can help you see all of the new products available and pick them up when you spot the perfect card for a friend or family member.

• Start a greeting card box: As you collect the perfect cards for friends and family, keep them organized and looking great by placing them in a greeting card or photo box. Make your own tabs to separate them by month or occasion and send out as needed. You can also tag the backs of individual cards with sticky notes to remember who you purchased them for.

• If at first you don’t succeed… don’t beat yourself up! It is said that it takes more than 60 days to build a habit, so if you happen to forget a birthday or two don’t give up on your project entirely. Sending a late gift or note is always better than not recognizing it at all (hence the readily available belated birthday cards!)

• Bonus points: Be sure to bookmark the free selection of “Celebrate the Date” e-cards available from AmericanGreetings.com. Recognizing everything from historical events to the anniversary of the invention of the waffle, there are plenty of unique holidays perfect for sending to a loved one to show that you were thinking of them.

In the end, remembering someone’s special day is a wonderful way to let them know how important they are in your life, but don’t limit yourself to just the big days. Reach out whenever the mood strikes, whether it is with a phone call, note, email or text to show that you care. Just as you love when your phone rings to someone saying they were thinking about you, they’ll appreciate the same in return.