“14 years ago, I was a hospice volunteer. A lady I absolutely fell in love with was dying of cervical cancer,” explains Parker’s Cindy Waddle, Founder and CEO of Dezire to Inspire. “I went home and handwrote 365 days worth of index cards for each of her two daughters. I presented those cards at their mother’s funeral two weeks later and later learned that they got up every morning and called each other to read their cards.”
The experience opened Cindy's eyes to the power of spreading inspiration and encouragement during difficult times, prompting her to create the online retail store Dezire to Inspire. The business, which opened in June, offers 18 uplifting card set categories, available in 30, 60, 90, and 365-day collections, as well as greeting cards.
The cards are designed to celebrate life's joys and provide a guiding light through life's challenges. The cards support certain topics that are often overlooked—like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and grief over the loss of a beloved pet. Customers could give their best friend a 365-day gift box of cards to show their support for an entire year, while a coffee shop owner could purchase a set of coffee-themed inspirational cards to hand out to customers.
The team at Dezire to Inspire is on a mission to create a meaningful and lasting impression in the hearts of those who receive their cards, especially during their times of greatest need by reminding the recipient that there's someone who cares.
Cindy considers it her specialty to write about, “A lot of touchy subjects that lift people up.” Some categories that she considers the most important and dear to her heart include Survive and Thrive, which is designed to support men living with post-traumatic stress disorder and its female counterpart, Perseverance and Peace.
Until We Meet Again is a set that harkens back to Cindy's original inspiration. The box is created for someone who knows their time is coming to an end and wants to leave behind words of support and encouragement for a loved one.
“This beautiful set was the hardest to create but is the exact reason this company was formed,” Cindy says. She scripted 365 notes with messages like, “You are my angel on Earth, and I will be your angel in heaven.”
More than just paper, Dezire to Inspire's cards act as beacons of hope and joy to the Parker community and beyond.