Mail – something everyone hates, because it usually means bills and junk mail. What about when something is not a bill? What do you think about when you get a card or letter in the mail?

I have always been a card person. If I see a card at the store that reminds me of someone, I will pick it up and mail it out. Usually, there will be a multi-page letter folded inside, or else I will cover the entire interior of the card in what I have to say. There is just something about opening the mailbox, seeing that envelope (if it’s coloured, even better!), and knowing that someone was thinking of you. I have turned my husband into a card guy – at the beginning of each month, we make a list of any holidays and birthdays coming up, and we have so much fun picking out cards for everyone! Birthday cards are some of the most fun. I mail out cards to some of my friends kids for the holidays; the highlight was a few years ago when my girlfriend told me her son took his Hallowe’en card to baseball practice and would not put it down because it was his card. I have confused some of the younger ones; earlier this year I sent out Valentines and was using up my remaining Christmas stamps – one of the kids told his mom he got a card from Santa. Oops!

My days of writing letters started when I was a child. My aunt was stationed in Japan, South Korea, and then Germany, so her daughter and I (we are only a month apart) were pen pals. I had a pen pal through French class when I was in junior high (I wonder whatever happened to her, I stopped writing when I got to high school); I would write in French and she would reply in English. When I left college, one of my sorority sisters and I started writing letters to each other, and we are still doing so 13 years later.

There is something special about getting a card or letter in the mail. Knowing that someone took the time to just pick out that card, or write the letter (I have gotten cramps from writing longer letters) makes you feel good. I set time aside each week to write out one letter. Sometimes I can get it written in one sitting, other weeks it takes a bit longer. I have sent out many letters this summer, and it is so fulfilling. Just the act of putting pen to paper changes the way we communicate. I really think about what I want to say and how I want to say it. I have gone to write a letter with a plan of what to say, and when I get to actually doing it, I don’t see a need to say it anymore, because it is trivial or just not relevant to the rest of the letter.

I also hand-address my envelopes. I did this for my wedding invitations and all the thank you notes that went with it, same for baby shower thank yous and announcements, Christmas cards, 1st birthday invitations and thank yous – I don’t have anything against printed labels, I just feel that it brings a level of personalization. If you are a label person, that is just fine; I’m already glad to be receiving something from you!

This past spring, I purchased some fancy brush-style markers. I have only used them a handful of times; I need to practice writing with them, and just have not set aside the time to do so. I also have a book on hand-lettering, and a very nice calligraphy pen and inkwell. For now, I am focusing on really slowing down and ensuring my writing is legible. It is getting better, and when I am pleased with how that is looking, it will be on to the hand-lettering practice.

When is the last time you wrote a letter? What about sending a “just thinking of you!” card? Next time you’re at the store, take a walk through the card section. You never know what card will speak to you. So, pick it up, write a little note, and send it out. You will make someone’s day.