Snail Mail

 I have always been taught by my mother to write thank you notes. She would always say something along the lines of: "You know what? Princess Diana always wrote thank you notes to hosts after an event, and they were handwritten. If she can make the time, so can you." I truly believe in their importance and impact. That's where it all began for me! 

Then, when several of my friends left on LDS missions all across the country and world, I began writing 2 or 3 letters a week to my friends in the states. Oh, it's true love, snail mail and I. Sending and receiving mail is one of my very favorite things, and I'll tell you why.

There is a certain vulnerability required for letter writing.  To sit down, put pen to paper, and record your thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper is tough. I'm sure many of us have said, "ain't nobody got time for that!" To make matters worse, you send it off for another person to hold in their hands. You can't backspace. You can't sit there staring, re-reading, and obsessing over what you should have said instead. You write it out with your own hand, seal it up, and literally send it off, a tangible object. Scaryyyy. But also, what a powerful thing! You can do it, I promise.

I'm not just talkin' The Notebook style love letters, here (although that is, of course, a quick way to my heart). I'm suggesting an encouraging note to your friend in grad school, thank you cards for generous birthday gifts, or a "thanks for looking out for me" card to Grandma who feeds you all the time.

In a world where seemingly everything we share with our friends and family is filtered and carefully crafted online, a handwritten note is a refreshing surprise. It's so much more fun to get mail that isn't a bill or the Anthropologie catalog reminding you of how much money you don't have.

I love that when I see someone's handwriting, I know it could only have been created by them, and they had to sit and think of me, at least for a few minutes, while they wrote to me. Sometimes that person is far away, and knowing someone you don't often see still thinks of you is really lovely.  

If you're wishing you had a letter in your mailbox one day, put your address in the comments and I will send you one! Everyone should get a note "just because" at least once in their life. I'd really love to write to you. Seriously.

Let's keep snail mail alive and well!

Furthermore, if you want to write a letter but don't know who to write to, check out More Love Letters.  The requests have such diversity, from really rough circumstances to insecurities we've all felt. I love being part of it, I thought you might, too.