The cost of intentionally reaching out to someone through snail mail. Now I know you are probably thinking there is texting, email, messaging, snapchatting, instagramming, twittering (yes that word is intentional) and all are much faster than writing a note or letter. My question is this: how intentional are all of those modes of communicating?

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I know there’s the fun pictures and little snippets on Snapchat and Instagram, but boom they disappear. Email is great, but again more emails come in and interruptions, then auto correct happens...well you know. Not to mention whatever mood you are in is how you can read all of those electronic messages and conflict or hurt feelings can ensue. And how often do you reread what you have typed before you hit send? I know often when I reread mine it’s a reaction, not a response.

 

Back to intentionally sitting down and writing letter. When is the last time you did that? Not talking about mass mailings of Christmas cards, but you sat down and wrote a letter. There really are not a lot of rules and no fancy paper is required. (Any zip code including your own is perfect) A greeting, a few questions as to the recipients well being and then an update on your world, sign it, fold it to fit in an envelope, seal it—-some envelopes taste better than others, address the envelope, put a return address on it, add a stamp (don’t think they have the kind you have to lick anymore), and place it in a mailbox.

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Then what, Deb....where’s my response? Only one person will see it....how will I know if I am popular or not? Is what I said cool enough? Well here’s the truth unless they write back or reply in one of the previously mentioned modes you won’t know. It’s a way to reach out to reach out. Our postal service is much faster than the Pony Express. What the recipient gets is the joy of a letter being in the mail that someone took the time to write and actually focused on them for a bit of time. And it can be reread, it’s tangible.

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I plan to write and mail a few notes or letters a month. I used to write a lot of letters. It’s a wonderful way to add something different to people’s mailboxes and to say, “I thought of you and took time to let you know”.

 

I will sign off with a quote from Mother Teresa:

 

Kind words can be short but their echoes are truly endless.

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Sprinkle Sparkles

 

Blessings,

 

Deb