Letter Writing to the Rescue
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Even for an introvert, too much time stuck at home can be a problem. What to do with all of this time? For me, the answer is to write more letters, to write about writing letters, to organize said letters, and to find new uses for old letters. No matter how you say it, it’s letter writing to the rescue.
Like many letter writers out there, letter writing is my super power. It’s not that I am the best at it, but rather that I know how most people feel when they receive a letter in the mail. They feel happy, special, valued, seen. Maybe they feel treasured, appreciated, and loved. And because I know the value of writing letters, I take time every week to send someone mail.
It soothes my soul to write, to think about what I’ll say, to select the right card or stationery to fit my mood or the personality of the recipient. Sometimes I don’t feel like writing a lot, so then maybe I’ll send a card with a short note, or I’ll send a postcard. Thankfully, I have plenty on hand (stamps too), which makes it easy to make it happen.
What do you love to do and how do you make it happen?
I am trying to get back into pen-pal-ing. Am actually trying to re-connect with a cousin who we used to exchange letters with when I was very young, possibly 11-16 years of age. I am now 61. I used to love the look and feel of the stationery (I used to write on lovely crinkly, noisy onion skin paper which I can’t find these days), and I hoped that the recipient would love it as well, seeing as they were paper people too :). Writing a letter is a very reflective exercise for me as it slows down my thinking and makes me question, especially if who I am writing to doesn’t agree with an opinion of mine, or we have different values.
I hope you find your cousin! That’s great that you want to reconnect. Onion paper is still out there. I recently ordered some Japanese letter writing paper from JetPens and it is like onion skin. There is definitely something about the feel of pen to paper. Thanks for sharing!
Although I’ve loved writing and receiving letters since I was about fifteen, after reading Nick Bantock’s Griffin & Sabine books, I began illustrating letters and envelopes. I’m no artist, and my letters and postcards are evidence of that, but it does add to my pleasure. Then I found the mail art community, and the inspiration for decorating envelopes was inspiring.
I find myself thinking of things I want to share with family and friends and making my way upstairs to write a letter, note, or postcard. During these unusual times, it has been even more gratifying to check the mail and find a letter waiting for me.