I’m over at RooMag today sharing about how I’ve recently been rediscovering the lost art of writing handwritten notes. Here’s a snippet:
Back when I was much younger, I was a voracious letter writer. I had upwards of 50 penpals from around the world and spent hours of my life penning letters. Looking back, it seems a little excessive–and it probably was!–but these days, sometimes weeks will go by without me writing even so much as one handwritten note.
And I’m guessing I’m not alone. In this culture of texting, Facebook, and email, writing a handwritten note is almost a lost art. Sure, texting or emailing might be faster and more efficient, but there’s just something special and meaningful in receiving a handwritten note in the mail every once in awhile.
With this in mind, I set a goal to write two handwritten notes each month in 2012. To be honest, when I set that goal I wondered if I’d be able to keep it. Afterall, I’ve gotten really lax in writing notes in recent years. To my surprise, I’ve found that it’s not been difficult at all. In fact, I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve been writing more than two notes each month.
Read the full post at RooMag.com.
I absolutely love sending cards, thank you notes and writing letters and sending them to friends by postal mail. I love doing this around Easter and Christmas, but its fun to do it for no special occasion at all. There’s something so wonderful about encouraging a friend and sending a little bit of sunshine there way. I love your goal Crystal. I know that I appreciate it when I get something personal in the mail that isn’t a bill 🙂
Great goal – I made a similar one for this year – to acknowledge every birthday (and other special event) for family and close friends with a handwritten note – it gives me a good reason to write and I average 2 to 3 at least a month. I also have my kids draw pictures or write a short note for the letter – so the recipient really gets three in one!
Oh I totally agree with you about handwritten notes being so important and so special. I always have been a bit of a note person but after losing our infant daughter almost 1 1/2 yrs. ago I’ve become convinced that we need to do more handwritten notes to people. There is just nothing like getting a card in the mail- something tangible that you can hold. And somehow it seems that when someone takes the time to actually sit down and hand write what they want to say it just means more. Maybe because they have to think through it because they can’t simply hit the delete button? Anyway, I’ve been having lots of fun sending mail to people this last year. Such a simple way to bless others and brighten their day!
Crystal, It is a lost art! I used to work at the Post Office and I saw how people were mailing less and less.
My Mother is almost 85 years old and I think the thing that keeps her mind as sharp as it is may be the journaling and all the many cards that she has sent to so many friends and family.
I ,too try to send cards and notes but not as well as my Mother did.
I write to my uncle, who lives in a group home, 6 days a week. He has Alzheimer’s disease and the one thing he still looks forward to each day is receiving mail. I type out the letter so I can make the font large enough for him to read plus, it allows me to add images as well.
I love this! What a ministry!
The mug in this picture brought back sweet memories of a Finnish exchange student my family hosted. She always talked about the Moomies (sp?), and I used to have a very similar rose colored cup…hmmm…wonder where that went to? Sorry to be off topic, but thank you for the walk down memory lane.
I appreciate your sharing about hand-written notes these past few months, Crystal, because it’s inspired me to do the same. I aim for one per week, and when that doesn’t happen, I’m okay with it. It’s been so fun to see who God places on my heart each time, and such a simple way to bless someone in my life.
You are so welcome; I’m excited to hear you’re joining me in this “challenge” of sorts. I’ve found it’s not too challenging at all and definitely agree that it’s been so fun!
I love the idea of handwriting notes.
My son just received an Easter egg in the mail today and it was such a nice yet inexpensive surprise.
I posted pictures here:
http://www.myfavedeals.com/2012/03/fun-easter-surprise-mail-egg.html
Currently going through old letters and notes that were written to my parents and grandparents, all deceased now, I can tell you what a treasure these notes are, even to a later generation!! Think of that when you write…someone’s grandchildren may enjoy having it someday!!
Elizabeth in NC
Being Compassion sponsors has really helped us rediscover what a blessing it is to send and receive handwritten letters. A handwritten note is always appreciated when we go retrieve the mail each day! 🙂
Our family felt so strongly about doing this that we began a letter box full of addresses, envelopes, stamps, paper etc when our children were younger. Each week our children would choose someone to write to. We tried to focus on elderly, widows, orphans etc. Since we home school, I counted it as part of our writing for the week 🙂 The response was amazing! It was such a blessing to so many, and to this day, years later, my children still take the time to write letters. People enjoyed our letters so much they would often write back and send extra stamps to ensure the letters would keep coming. At a time when I felt that my hands were so full with my children that I wasn’t able to particpate in a lot of outside ministry, doing this allowed us to reach out from home to others. I encourage you to try it. There is nothing like recieving a handwritten note in the mail!!
For years my mom had a ministry of writing letters to hurting people- sick, grieving the loss of loved one, etc. Items on her Christmas or birthday list always included greeting cards, stationery, and postage stamps. When she passed away several years ago, a number of people attended the visitation and shared how those hand-written letters of love made a difference in their lives.
When our retreat group would have a weekend, each of the leaders would write each member a “palanca,” which means lever, or something that helps you move beyond your normal strength (i.e. the grace of God). It was a big task for each leader who was working so hard to plan the weekend, to also write a person letter to 20+ participants, but it was so worth it. Former participants would also get a list and write letters too. I remember my first weekend as a participant when I sat down to open allll those letters. . .I still keep them to this day, they were so meaningful. (And typing was NOT allowed!)
You’re right—and I really miss geting letters these days.
In fact, I’m planning to actually mail handwritten thank-you notes after the Adoption shower being given to us soon…..because I believe it will be a big blessing to each of the ladies and their families.
I think it’s wonderful that someone is throwing you an adoption shower. 🙂 We are hoping to adopt soon, too. God’s Blessings to you!
Thanks for this link, Crystal! Within the last two months I even started my own business offering handwritten addressing services for individuals and businesses. It’s a lost art and something that can definitely brighten someone’s day and make them feel special. And I must admit, I still have a few boxes tucked away of cards from childhood and letters from my pen pals! They are treasured…
Yes! I’ve been trying to do this – writing older relatives for instance, writing to friends when I think that would be better than an email. It helps to get really nice stationery that you want to share. Not cheap, especially if you have your name engraved on it, but perhaps an investment in joy.
A simple postcard will brighten someone’s day as well. These take less postage and can be made by recycling a greeting card you may have received (just cut off the front of the card and write your message on half of the reverse side).
What a great idea!
I’m a military wife. My best friend from back home and I, write letters back and forth with each other. I love writing letters. I even keep a hand written journal. (I know I am too old for that) But the journal gives me a way to keep track of my childrens progress. And I honestly barely know how to work this computer. lol Writing is wonderful and if more people wrote letters, maybe the post office wouldnt have to close branches down.
My husband and I are leaders in the college ministry at our church. We regularly correspond with the students who are away at school via facebook, e-mails, and texting. We had a few come home over the last few weeks for spring break and asked them about ways that we could better encourage them and help them feel like part of the group when they were back in town. Interestingly the response we heard from so many of them was receiving as they put it, “snail mail” from people in the group. I have now started to divide up the list of away students and have our group spend part of our social time before we get started with weekly Bible study and to sit down and write a few notes to them.
It is amazing how much a short note can brighten someone’s day when they know that you took a few minutes of your own time to sit down and write them a note and in our case remember to pray for that individual.
What in the world do you write about? I would be stumped on this one- it would seem to me if I just wrote about myself that would sound so self-centered. I don’t like to talk on the phone either so I guess I just don’t have that much to say LOL!
Usually when I write it’s thanking someone for how they’ve impacted my life or blessed me and/or sharing words of encouragement and blessing to them. Oftentimes, it’s really simple–sometimes no longer than 4-6 sentences, sometimes I’ll share a verse or a quote, too.
I don’t think you have to write much! If you know someone is going through a tough time, just write a little “Thinking of You” note. If I am reading a book and a section reminds me of someone, then I make a note to tell them about it!
I remember a while ago, I was going through a hard time, and someone who I don’t talk to regularly sent me a card, it had a smiley face on it, I opened it up to find confetti. There was just a simple note written on the inside; maybe two lines or so, but it really made my day and made me smile! 🙂
Love it! Thanks so much for the ideas–and for the cards you’ve written to brighten my day! I’m blessed to know you, friend!
Mail is my ministry 🙂
I always fill the top/left side with a verse, and then I just tell the person I am praying for them that day (and I do it) and that I hope they are having a wonderful day!
http://angelnavywife.blogspot.com/2011/05/double-blessings-through-cards.html
I love handwritten notes! I love to read handwriting in general- so much can be said from that. I never send out Christmas or birthday cards with the printed message only – a handwritten wishes will always accompany them. There is just something very special about it and I’m certain that people you are writing your notes to feel the same way.