Empathy Cards by Emily McDowell Express Genuine Concern While Making You Smile

We're great admirers of the hilariously honest (and sometimes awkward) greeting cards by Emily McDowell. Now, she's bringing that same truthful spunk to subjects that are tough to tackle. Specifically, what to say to someone who's dealing with serious health conditions like cancer, chronic illness, or mental illness. McDowell is herself a cancer survivor, and she's channeling her experience to a series of eight cards.

The line is aptly called Empathy Cards. Some reference chemo treatments, while others let us acknowledge that we're simply at a loss for words. Each poignant card is written in McDowell's beautiful hand-lettered type and expresses genuine concern while still making you smile.

McDowell created the collection because she believes that we need better, more authentic ways to communicate about sickness and suffering. “It's a really tough problem; someone we love needs our support more than ever, but we don't have the right language for it,” she writes on her website. “My goal is to help people connect with each other through truth and insight, which is one of the founding principles of this brand,” she explains. “I want the recipients of these cards to feel seen, understood, and loved.”

Emily McDowell website
via [Neatorama]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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