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Timeless messages for milestone birthdays

Want to write something memorable in a loved one’s birthday card but can’t find the right words? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our guide to creating the ultimate birthday card greeting for a loved one of every age.

Milestone birthdays and why they are so important 

Milestone birthdays are the ones that call for extra-special attention. They provide markers in life and give us a chance to pause and reflect on the things a person has achieved so far e.g. graduating high school, becoming a member of the board or, who knows, having sixteen grandchildren. 

According to tradition, the following birthdays are categorized as ‘milestone birthdays’: a person’s first, sixteenth, eighteenth, twenty first, thirtieth, fortieth, fiftieth, sixtieth, and then every decade after that, which, judging by recent population figures, is likely to be quite a few. 

According to the Rural Health Information Hub, more than 46 million adults aged 65+ live in the US today, and that number is expected to grow to 90 million by 2050. In short, by 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or over. That’s lots of milestones to celebrate! 

Create a custom birthday card for someone’s milestone birthday today with TouchNote.

Baby’s first birthday card

Okay, so the baby isn’t going to know (or care) what’s written in their birthday card but, trust us, the parents will. They’ve survived 365 days. And kept the baby alive! It’s a big accomplishment and nothing says ‘bravo’ like a personalized greeting card. If you’re stuck, why not quote something from Dr Seuss or Winnie the Pooh? You can’t go wrong with ‘A hug is always the right size’ by AA Milne. 

16th birthday card

Sweet sixteen. Hormones might be running rife but who cares? They are on the brink of adulthood and they can legally drive! Make that special teenager in your life feel seen and inspired with a birthday message about dreams and possibility. 

How about: ‘You can accomplish anything you set your mind to – and we can’t wait to see it happen.’ Alternatively, if you want to tease them, you could tell them that at their age, Albert Einstein was already working on his theory of relativity and that Schubert had written his first symphony. 

18th birthday card

This is the biggie. With 18 comes autonomy. They can make their own decisions now – voting is legal in most states – and chances are they’ll be moving into a brand-new chapter of their lives be it college, a first job or seeing the world, traveling. One of the best ways to mark an 18th birthday is to dig out some super-embarrassing photos from childhood and create a personalized gift card. Why not have a play with TouchNote?

21st birthday card

Turning 21 marks the end of childhood and that means independence. The world is officially their oyster. At 21, they are legally permitted to buy liquor – who-hoo, raise a glass! – and to go to nightclubs. How about making a cheeky nod to the above by writing: ‘One day you’ll wish you’d get carded!’ in their birthday card, or ‘Drinks are on you tonight. Cheers!’ Alternatively, for something more philosophical, how about: ‘In order to write about life, first you must live it. Ernest Hemingway’. 

30th Birthday card

Saying goodbye to your twenties can be bittersweet for some. But there’s nothing like a meaningful birthday card to lift the mood. While many choose to settle down and have babies in their thirties (damn that biological clock) it’s not too late to have fun. Far from it. 

Remind your friend/family member that they are still fit and young (according to statistics, 18-34 year olds are the fittest age group in the US population) and beyond the gym, there’s a whole world waiting to be explored. ‘Flirty thirty’, that’s what they say, right?

40th Birthday card

Some might say 40 marks the ungraceful descent into middle age. We say: nonsense! Forty is all about knowing yourself better, having the courage to be your authentic self and exploring things outside your comfort zone. If the woman in your life is coming up to her 40th, and you can’t think what to write in a birthday card for her, simply name drop Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. All three of them are currently rocking their forties. 

50th Birthday card

Wow, half a century! It’s customary to congratulate a person on this impressive tally but it’s also important to look ahead. ‘Here’s to another 50’ is something often found in 50th birthday cards or ‘the future is bright’. 

For something a bit more tongue in cheek, we love this quote from Walt Disney: ‘Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional’. Alternatively, you could channel PR powerhouse Samantha Jones from Sex and the City and simply put: ‘fifty and fabulous.’ 

60th Birthday card

Sixty and still got it! The special person in your life may be stepping off the gas work-wise or even considering retirement but just because they’re 60 doesn’t mean they have to slow down. 

Suggest to them that now they are 60, they’ll have more time to enjoy their hobbies and to travel the world. Those slippers can wait. Just look at Mick Jagger. He played to an arena of 80,000 screaming fans on his sixtieth birthday.

Create a birthday card with TouchNote

It’s important to mark every milestone with something memorable. With TouchNote, it’s easy to upload photos and make custom birthday cards or to send that special someone a gift. And remember, we deliver our cards internationally!

TouchNote / June 2022
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