Greeting cards ideally express sentiments we have trouble articulating ourselves.

With that in mind, Los Angeles-based designer Emily McDowell has created a line of empathy cards, acuated by the loneliness and isolation she felt when, at age 24, her Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis rendered friends flustered and evasive. Now 38, McDowell is cancer-free, but vividly recalls the emotional impact of her social circle’s reticence to reach out. Her cards aim to provide earnest, authentic ways to communicate about the suffering of serious illness; no platitudes or false cheer, just straightforward, conversational, sweet messages rendered in bright hues and handwritten script.

At moments in which genuine understanding is lacking and longed for, these cards offer a heartfelt way to communicate. Flip through the slide-show to see more of McDowll’s Empathy designs. —Adrienne Matei

Empathy Cards by Emily McDowell

By Vitamin Daily

http://emilymcdowell.com/collections/new

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