In many ways, efficiency and time preservation have left us more detached from those around us. Living in the middle of a pandemic hasn’t helped instill a feeling of a connection either. Sometimes, we need to go back to the basics and bring about a way of life before technology took over. Following a few tips for restoring the charm of snail mail can allow you to reconnect with people you love using the fading art of the written word.
Greeting Cards
Greeting cards are often associated with the holiday season, but no written rule says you may only send out well wishes and greeting cards to convey the holiday spirit. Consider sending greeting cards out of the blue throughout the year to those in your life.
Social media platforms allow us to keep up with each other’s lives, but only the snapshot or highlight reel we want people to see. Use greeting cards to let someone know they’re on your mind and to give them updates on your life as well. You never know—you might get a card back!
Post Cards
Though we often associate the sending of postcards with going on vacation, you can send one anytime. Many companies offer an abundance of graphic options ranging from custom cards with your uploaded media to images related to hobbies and other aesthetically pleasing photos. There are many selections to choose from, and postcards are cheaper to mail than other letters.
Grab yourself a book of postcard stamps and a card with imagery that’s either meaningful to you or the recipient, and write them a message that you wouldn’t mind others reading. A positive message passed through several hands on the way to its receiver can brighten the day of many.
Old-Fashioned Pen Pals
When you were a kid, you may have had a pen pal. Reminisce about the times you ran to the mailbox, hoping today was the day a letter would come. At heart, we still have a little of that hopeful spirit we had in our youth. Just because we are older now, that doesn’t mean we can’t have that feeling again. Consider getting a pen pal; send an old friend or family member a letter, and ask them to write back.
Perhaps you could develop a new tradition with your children and write letters in your household. You don’t even have to mail them, though it’s still kind of fun to do so. It might be a great way to find new communication modes between you and the people you love most. The vulnerability and personal touch of handwritten letters ignite a feeling of love and nostalgia. It may also help you communicate with someone you’re having trouble speaking with in person.
There are many great ways to get back to the basics and reconnect with people offline. In a time when so many are isolated and quarantined, a little thoughtfulness coming from the heart may help people you didn’t even know were struggling. If following a few tips for restoring the charm of snail mail could boost morale and lift the spirits of yourself and the people in your life, wouldn’t you do it?
