Introducing a new series with me and the wonderful Fiona of Life Lyrics and Lemoncake – Send Some Happy! We are both long-time snail mail and letter lovers, and we have some exciting post-themed blog posts up our sleeves for the next few months. But really, this isn’t about us, it’s about inspiring you to join us in promoting post. Last week was International Letter Writing Week, so what better time to begin?!
Each post Fiona and I will add a little challenge, if you feel so inclined to join us in sending happy post. It will probably be something fairly simple- we are all busy people- but a way to encourage you and us in our post sending. Share your thoughts/ pictures by using the hashtag #sendsomehappy on twitter or instagram.
I have long been a lover of snail mail. My mum sometimes reminds me of when I first wanted to write, coming in and asking ‘how do you write ‘Dear Emma?’ ‘ (my friend who I met back in nursery, and who actually introduced me to Josh… I digress!) Obviously letter writing has been close to me from a young age. We were always taught to write thankyou letters to kind family members who gave us presents at Christmas and a few weeks later on birthdays, and this cultivated my love of writing letters. (My brother obviously didn’t find it so inspiring!) My grandparents would send us occasional letters and postcards, and it was always a surprise and a treat to get something just for you through the letter box. I still have a few of those notes, the handwriting taking me straight back to my Grandpa’s chair, stories he told, the cacophony of pens and papers on the table next to it. Granny’s slanting writing and her interesting postcards remind me of the strength and determination she had.
At secondary school, my parents, my brother and I would pack up our caravan and head across the Channel to France for two weeks of sunshine, sand and fresh baguettes. Typically we would get a ferry for a few hours, then spend a day or so driving further South, chasing the warmth, before setting up camp. Days of swimming, reading, shopping in Hypermarkets and beach trips were before us. I sat in rocking ferry lounges with stacks of books, notebooks and paper, writing my rambling thoughts to my cousin, Kate (sorry!). As we drove, I wedged my bag next to my feet in the Landrover and continued, adding drawings of campsites and funny encounters as we stopped along the way. There was something about the summer holidays, and particularly those two weeks away from normal life, which made me want to write letters, and write them I did! For several years she endured received my extensive writing- which I used to save up and stuff as many into one envelope as possible- until later I cut back a little, and began writing to Josh as well.
I have a shoebox full of letters that I’ve collected from various times, and it’s so nice to look through and see the time, effort and care that has been taken with them. Some are even from Josh, not a writing lover, from when he took Geology trips. I have a long standing correspondence with one school friend which we have been doing on and off for about seven years now, and a whole folder of letters from her. Yet in the past few years I have been really bad at remembering to reply, or setting aside the time to do so. Back in 2013 I did a month of letterwriting which served to deepen my love of snail mail- and it made me realise that even writing a letter a day was do-able, it was just a case of making the time. Social media and the internet can take up a lot of my time without me even realising- and I realised that writing a letter was something that wasn’t actually that difficult. Five minutes less of screen time meant that I had some time to send a genuine, thoughtful letter or card to someone, something which meant invariably much more to them than my time spent skimming my facebook feed or any online interaction.
Since we have moved house, I have found myself enjoying another side to snail mail which I had never really done before, the joy of sending parcels. This was really born out of necessity to return things to those who had lent them to us, or sending belated presents, but then I realised the opportunity I had to include a thoughtful card, or to surprise someone with something they weren’t expecting to receive. Now I’ve started my Etsy shop too, I’m sending parcels pretty frequently and I love being able to package everything beautifully and add handwritten notes. It’s inspiring me for a new year of post sending, letters and parcels alike, sending some happy.
In this modern day I am learning to embrace my snail mail side, and use it as a way to send some happiness out into the world. I’m trying to teach myself again to make a conscious effort to take time to send letters out to encourage, surprise, or just returning a letter sent to me. Part of me still wishes that we could go back to days when letters were all there were- but instead I’m going to embrace the fact that letters can still be an important method of communication, and joy – sending in a technological age.
Are you a fan of snail mail? What is your letter story?
Challenge: Why not send a thankyou card to someone to thank them for a Christmas gift you appreciated, or for time spent together over the holiday period? Remember you can join the community at #sendsomehappy !
Grab the button:
<div align="center"><a href="http://zoeprose.com" title="Send Some Happy"><img src="https://zoeprose.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/send-some-happy-button.jpg" alt="Send Some Happy" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
iwillbloom says
Oh, I love this idea! Loved your writing in this post, too!
Zoe Rose says
Thankyou, Helen 🙂
Shannon says
This is great! I’m currently working on some handmade birthday packages for friends back home and I think I’ll be sending a little valentine card to my nieces..they don’t live far, but I’m cultivating them into little snail mail lovers hehe!! ^^
Zoe Rose says
That sounds so fun! I love that post sending is often as exciting as receiving it..
Shannon says
Agreed! 🙂