Meaningful Moments Inspired by ThoughtFulls

Michael D. McCarthy brings joy, positivity, and inspiration to anyone he meets. In addition to using ThoughtFulls in his work with a prison ministry for youth who are incarcerated, he also uses ThoughtFulls in his daily life to make the day of strangers, especially those having a hard day. When he and his wife were flying back from Europe, they came across an irate airline passenger who was arguing with the flight attendant about not wanting to check his carry-on luggage. The passenger swore at the flight attendant and called her names. Michael found out later that the attendant, on top of dealing with the man’s cruelty, was also battling cancer. Michael had one pop-open card leftover from his trip. He handed it to her and saw her whole face light up with joy. This is just one of hundreds of instances where Michael uses ThoughtFulls to connect with those around him.

June Westcott’s first experience with ThoughtFulls pop-open cards began in 2013 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center gift shop in Houston, Texas. It was her first time battling cancer. When she was diagnosed again in 2019, she turned to the cards as a source of comfort and encouragement, opening a card every day then giving it away.

Eventually, she began buying ThoughtFulls in mass quantities to hand out randomly—whether in grocery stores, parking lots, or the doctor’s office. She also shared them at the hospital where she was previously a patient. Now, her bag of ThoughtFulls goes everywhere she goes! Wescott says, “We all have had trying times the last few years and as small and tiny as these little cards are… they make a difference, for me and everyone else.”

Randy Robertson has handed out hundreds of ThoughtFulls over the years, sharing them across the US and around the world—from Scotland and England to Ireland and France. The reactions from those receiving the cards never ceases to amaze him. When Robertson hands someone a card, he asks them if they’re up for the challenge of handing out more cards to people they encounter, to continue the ripple effect of goodwill. People always enthusiastically say yes!

Compendium’s Director of Sales Carin Moore has some of her own fond memories with ThoughtFulls pop-open cards. One morning, she left early to go hiking—alone—because her husband, Rod, is an Alabama football fan through and through and stayed home to watch the game. But before she left, he put the forest permit parking pass in her car with a Love ThoughtFulls card paper-clipped to it. On the back of the card, he wrote a note that read, “I love you way more than hiking and ‘Bama football!” To this day, she still has the ThoughtFulls card.

Compendium sales rep Donna Singer, from the Portico Collection, shared a story about a heartwarming Thanksgiving dinner years ago. Donna decorated her holiday table by adding a ThoughtFulls card at each place setting. As dinner began, she invited everyone to take turns reading their quote aloud. One guest had secretly added an extra special message to a particular card, so when Donna’s daughter opened hers, it read, “Will you marry me?” Everyone was beyond surprised! (She said yes, by the way.)

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We hope these stories inspire you to share our ThoughtFulls pop-open cards with those in your community. Whether it’s the special people in your life or a stranger on the street, ThoughtFulls offer a great opportunity to bring a smile to someone’s face.

We look forward to what heartwarming stories the next 40 years will bring!