In late 2016, my friend Julia wrote a blog post about the underestimated power of stationery, and the importance of letter writing in this world of digital communication. I have always been more comfortable expressing my feelings through the written word rather than the spoken one, and this post intrigued me. What better year-long project for a writer, a planner, and a lover of office supplies? I treated myself to monogrammed notecards and great pens, and began my year of letter writing. Throughout 2017, I wrote and mailed one letter a week, except for one week in the summer, Thanksgiving week, and Christmas week. Forty-nine notes, written by hand.
Each note was different; they were birthday wishes, congratulations, thinking of you, miss you. Some notes weren’t centered on an occasion at all, but each one was an expression of my appreciation for that individual. Writing a note took less than ten minutes, but the act of sitting down to write made me think about what each person meant to me, and why I valued our relationship.
This was an easy task for my closest and oldest friends; they have been in my life long enough that I can readily share why I love them. Yet I wrote about things I don’t typically say out loud, and the warm and delighted responses made me realize how wonderful it is to hear not only that your friend is grateful for you, but why she is thankful you are in her life. The feedback I received from my notes was a bonus; I almost always had a text message from the week’s recipient, thanking me for the note and often expressing her own feelings about our relationship. Some told me of their delighted surprise, which I think added to the positive impact of the note.
I sent notes to some family members as well, and I found myself tearing up as I wrote some of them. I am not particularly effusive with my in-laws, for example, yet I poured my love and appreciation for them into words on a page. My notes to my niece and nephew were mundane and brief, but for kids at sleepaway camp, any snail mail is a reason to smile. I hope my children kept their notes tucked away, and I hope my husband isn’t insulted that I did not write to him. Not yet, anyway.
Because I am a pre-worrier, I considered the possibility that if someone in my life found out she didn’t receive a note, she would be hurt. One day in mid-October, I mentioned the notes to a group of six friends, all of whom I wrote to earlier in the year. To my horror, one friend looked at me blankly and asked, “What note?” I think she believed me when I insisted I mailed her one in June, but I wrote another one that afternoon. And while I did not send a note to everyone in my life in 2017, my challenge doesn’t have to end because the year did.
I didn’t write a note during the final week of 2017, and I felt like something was missing by the first week of the new year. Admittedly, I was also a bit relieved. All year I felt the pressure to write, even though I knew I’d feel accomplished and satisfied when I slipped the card in my mailbox. Going forward, however, my letter writing is no longer a task, but a gift I will give to myself and to someone in my life. All it takes is ten minutes, some thought and reflection, and a great piece of stationery.
I should’ve known you’d be a letter writer, Dana!
This is a lost art, right?
I send cards w/ verses, quotes, and love.
I’d love to hear from you! x
Do you know I did not send a note to any blogging friends (except one who had a baby)? Shame on me. I need to get some addresses and get moving.
I am thrilled that my post inspired you to do this – I started off 2017 with the intention to write one note a week, on Sundays, and promptly feel behind. New year, new opportunity! I think people really appreciate it when you take the time to actually write something and mail it. In the digital age, we “think” we are connected, but the connections are shallow. Hand written notes dive deeper. Thanks for sharing your experience- it’s an inspiration!
You inspired me, Julia! I may try to do a monthly note this year, just to keep in the habit. Once a week got to be tough, but I’m glad I followed through.
Oh, this is right up my alley! I love writing hand-written notes but confess that like others commenters, I’ve allowed technology to make inroads. But I think a modified version of this challenge is very doable in 2018. Thanks for sharing this great idea, Dana!
My pleasure Alison – happy new year!
I used to write long long notes to so many people. This makes me want to do so again, although I’ve noticed that when I do write by hand these days, it hurts my hand! The muscles for typing are so different which is something I think is really sad about future generations. My son writes stories by hand and I hope he always will…
Oh, I hope he does too! Gwen used to write stories all the time – I’ve saved them all.
I used to write so much and now just to write a note to Des’ teacher hurts my hand. I need to get back into practice because it’s important.
And a wonderful challenge/task that would hopefully become a joy/norm.
What a wonderful gift, and awww you make me want to “call” my MIL. What’s your special pen. I have my favorite it’s Uni-ball Black Gel 1.0 MM 207 Impact. It makes me have pretty handwriting.
I use Papermate Ink Joy fine point gel pen in black. Yours look good too – added them to my Amazon list to try the next time I have to stock up. And I love that you asked about my special pen…that is absolutely a question I would ask had someone else written this post! #pendorks
LOL @ pendorks. Very true. I couldn’t find them at Amazon. Well actually I did but it was showing me a picture that was not the same pen so I didn’t trust it. I get mine from Staples. It’s a pen that has a cap, not a push pen.
I love this! I started a letter writing project last year and got through about 10 really long typed one. I delivered each one with one of my challahs. I lost steam though. I would like to pick it up again after reading this!
Long letters AND a challah? That’s huge! It’s no accident that my notecards were small; I knew I was much more likely to write a brief letter than a long one.
Not half an hour ago I got a lovely and thoughtful thank you card from my niece! It gave me such pleasure to read it.
Last week I mailed off six cards to family members thanking them for their Christmas presents and I have to say I was dreading the job but felt rather good once it was done. I also noticed that I find it very odd to hold a pen now. How sad is that? Having said that, whenever I go to a new city I always pick up a slew of cards, Mostly thank you and birthday ones plus the odd “get better” card. I find that if I have fun and quirky cards on hand I’m more tempted to fire them out.
Love that you’re going to keep up your tradition, Dana. You’ve inspired me to send out more myself.
I’ve noticed that my handwriting is not as nice as it used to be – I think I’m trying to write too quickly and I get sloppy. I can type faster than I can write, and my brain moves faster than my hand.
I love the idea of buying cards in a new city – what a terrific thing to do! I’m going to do that, Kelly. Thanks!
I used to write more on paper, especially thank you notes way back in the day. I was very diligent with thank you notes. I admit with the age of the computer and internet, I have become more lax with this. If someone has email, I will most likely send them an email to thank rather than a real letter or thank you card per say now. Sad that I suppose it has come to this, but it is just more convenient. I mean having to go to the post office and stand online for stamps alone can take forever. Seriously, at Christmas time I had to do this for stamps for my Christmas cards. And the line that I stood on was insane. It took me almost an hour to get stamps for 75 cards. So, while I love that you did challenge yourself to this and sounds like it was indeed successful, sadly I will admit I probably would not be able to see something like this through here myself.
I hear you about standing in the post office! I just get my stamps at the grocery store, although I didn’t need special holiday stamps.
Although I absolutely love the idea of this, I’m not sure I have enough people to write too 🙂 Then again, I did send out almost 100 Christmas cards so…
Ha! I thought it would be tough, but I didn’t limit the notes to just the closest people in my life. I think some of my more casual friends were even more surprised and touched to receive a note – and it was great to touch base with them.