One of my unspoken and unwritten New Years resolutions for 2012 was to send more handwritten cards and letters. Like most overly ambitious resolution-makers, I was really into this idea in the month of January, and had pretty much forgotten about it by Valentine’s Day.
Some people are really good at sending snail mail, like my friend Christine. That girl has sent me mail from France, Australia, Southeast Asia, and most recently, New York City. I have kept all of her notes and postcards, which seem slightly more worthy to be cherished than e-mails.
When Brett’s father passed away, I was blown away by the number of cards we received. Real cards, filled with kind words, piled up in our mailbox for two weeks straight. We were overwhelmed with love, and yet I simultaneously felt a twinge of that all too familiar feeling: guilt. When was the last time I sent a card to someone? When was the last time I sent a birthday card, or a sympathy card, or an anniversary card, or a get well card? There are people in my life, close to my heart, who are celebrating birthdays and grieving losses and buying new houses and fighting health battles on a regular basis.
I always have excuses when it comes to snail mail. Stamps and stationary are expensive! E-mail is easy and free! But, I think we all know that the small amount of time and money that snail mail requires is most certainly worth it, especially when taking into consideration the joy of the recipient.
With that, I invite you to join me in a 30-day snail mail challenge.
It’s simple: let’s send one piece of snail mail every day for 30 days. Let’s send birthday cards and get well cards and thanks-for-being-a-good-friend cards. Let’s practice our penmanship and send kind words to our loved ones, bringing joy to mailboxes that are probably full of catalogs and spam. Let’s mail cards and letters and pictures and gifts and vow to spend just five minutes, every day for 30 days, thinking of someone else.
Who’s with me?
To kick start your snail mail journey, the beautiful ladies of Hi, Friend Design have offered to give one lucky reader two gorgeous stationary sets: one custom bicycle greetings set, and one hello dear set. I have the message in a bottle set (pictured above) and LOVE it.
I’ll pick a winner next Friday. Good luck!
p.s. My friend Hannah is the queen of snail mail. Check out her organization More Love Letters and watch her Ted Talk. She inspires me, a lot.
Oh my goodness. What a wonderful idea! I’m not sure I can commit to a full 30 days. I’m not even sure of 30 people I could send things to! But just yesterday I sent out 2 cards to some pen pals so yay I’m off to a good start. And I could send one to my sister or another pen pal. This will be fun!
Katie´s last [type] ..My favorite things Vol. 1 – a vlog
I love paper and stationary! You could kinda say I’m addicted!! I would love to get some new stationary!!
I’m in! Going to send snail mail to my friendJenn back home in NY., my aunt and ask Good for inspiration for the rest!
I love it! I do write my my nana twice a month or so, but I could certainly write more… and I can already think of so many other people I’d like to write to! When do you intend to start this? Today?
I’ll send out a letter today just in case. =]
Sarabell´s last [type] ..Check Out This Place 27!
Fun! I would send a note to my mom. Just because.
kelsey´s last [type] ..What Is a Dad?
ooh what a fun challenge! i have always been a huge fan of cards, i swear it’s because my first job was at a hallmark store!
kate´s last [type] ..a day at the park..
This is such a great idea! I love receiving cards!
I started sending postcards in high school, and I was blown away when I realized how many of my friends were saving them. I was lucky enough to travel more than many of my friends–my family went to Hawaii for Thanksgiving and sent me to France for a summer when I was 16. I think some of my friends from high school still have most of theirs! I became very conscious of sending something to my family and my friends whenever I went somewhere new–although my postcard list just keeps growing and growing (you don’t want to know–heck, I don’t want to know–how much I spend on postage in a year). I’m lucky enough to have some brilliant friends who love postcards and my grandma sent me cards with clippings, “ice cream money” (a crisp $5 bill), photos as I was growing up and whenever I lived abroad–I treasure all of those little bits of paper SO much.
My tips for sending snail mail: buy stamps (both postcard and regular) in rolls or sheets, so that you don’t have to keep going back and standing in line in the post office. I also loved the boxed sets of cool postcards (anthropologie always has cool ones) so that I always have cards on hand for birthdays, congratulations or just to say hello. Buy a binder ring and a one-hole punch and then stick the postcards you receive on it for a fun little flip book (my parents have this of all the postcards I’ve sent them). And a new recent suggestion from my mom: date all your postcards since the postmark can get smudged (if the person hasn’t dated them, date them when you receive them!).
Love this challenge, and so glad that you’ve enjoyed my little updates from around the globe
Christine´s last [type] ..Chinatown and Little Italy with Ahoy! New York Food Tours
That stationary is so cute! I have 3 friends that we try to keep a running tag-you’re-it game with greeting cards and it would be awesome to be able to use this stationary.
This is absolutely the best idea!!! I didn’t realize how wonderful snail mail was until I became sick this last year. I received so many beautiful cards that lifted my spirits so much and truly helped me get through and beat cancer!! Every day I went to get the mail I would get the biggest smile when I received a card. I can’t tell you how grateful I was for that. I realized then that this was something I was going to become better at because the act of sending a simple card in the mail truly can make a difference in someone’s life:). Great post Ashlee!!
Anna´s last [type] ..Welcome to Annie & Isabel’s New Web Site and Store!
Love this idea because I LOVE getting snail mail myself
I would love to do this!
Mia´s last [type] ..Oh, it’s a Catastrophe.
I am all about snail mail!! Anything from making my own stationary, since its redic hard to find inexpensive stationary these days (hello stamps!), to cute letterhead, I love to send something personal to those I love. Especially since all my friends live in different states these days. There is nothing like getting something that’s not a bill in the mail. And postcards are my go to. No souvenirs needed, just send me a postcard from your trip!
Absolutely love this challenge. I’ve certainly been trying to send more handwritten things but found that I haven’t been so successful. Your challenge already has me contemplating so many different people in my head that I can send cards to.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Kim´s last [type] ..A Week Without Cooking
I’m sending 2 letters to my friends today!! I love the power behind a hand written note
I send TONS of snail mail. I love it! Just sent out two letters today. I usually write to my friends back in D.C. & Ohio, but also to my sister in Texas, my brother in Spain, my cousin in London, & anyone else I can think of who could use a written pick-me-up.
What a great idea! I LOVE to give handwritten cards, and I could spend hours upon hours in stores like Papyrus browsing the funny cards and beautiful stationary. On my last birthday, I decided to write cards to each of my friends to let them know that they were the reason I felt like celebrating another year of my life and to thank them for their friendship. It was a really fun and gratifying project! Long live snail mail!
Kaleena’s Kaleidoscope´s last [type] ..Travel Tuesday: The Perfect Vacation Day
We just sent out like a thousand wedding thank you cards, so maybe I’m set for a little bit?
But I’d love to send a card to my sweet Grandma!
Jackie´s last [type] ..friday faves [part 8]
such gorgeous stationary-love the message in a bottle one you have. i would write to my mum-she loves mail. I don’t write enough anymore-and need to, living in a different continent-but love sending cards
robyn´s last [type] ..Gas issues
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
Love snail mail. Love receiving it, love sending it. And love that stationary. Pick me!
Lesley´s last [type] ..One direction at a time
Who doesn’t love getting snail mail?
I would probably write to my grandma’s!
So adorable! I would immediately write to my grandma, who is the queen of snail mail.
I’ll take that challenge! There are so many people I would send notes to. I think I won’t have a problem sending snail mail. I have been doing “More Love Lettesr” ever since I saw it on your blog. To start, I would send a note to my sister. Thanks for hosting!
Michelle´s last [type] ..San Francisco IS America’s Best City in 2012
This is a great idea! I’ve been meaning to send some letters to some people, so why not do it now!? I think I might need to go pick up some cute stationary today to get started… Love this!
love this idea! i have been trying to get better at this myself. what a great way to start. thanks!
Great giveaway and challenge! Thanks!
It was really funny. Right after I read this post earlier, Rainier went into my desk and pulled out all of my stationary and threw it around the kitchen HAHA. I love writing letters I think I want to do this for 30 days as well! If I could I would start by writing my sister a letter but they don’t get mail in the bush ;(
Oh I do love snail-mail. This is (pretty much) the only way my dear friend Nicole and I stay in touch. She and I love getting mail and it adds to a wonderful time of anticipation for news of what is going on in her life. I’m in for the 30 days of snail mail! Here we go.
Susan´s last [type] ..Autumn is finally at work on the trees
Best. Idea. Ever. LOVE it!
I love this idea! I always hand write thank you cards but I never really do cards for other things! I like the challenge to do more!
Great Idea Ashlee!
This is such a great idea! I would send one to my friend who lives in NYC and is stressed about her job.
Caroline´s last [type] ..Inspiration for your weekend
Though I know that challenge may be a bit ambitious for me, I love the idea and would like to actually make an effort to send out a few hand written notes this month. Good luck on your challenge though, each of those cards will mean a lot to the recipient.
Jessica@The Literary Foodie´s last [type] ..An Affair With Magazines
What a terrific idea – and challenge! I love sending mail and receiving it. I immediately thought of sending a little note to my Great Aunt Rachel. I am way overdue on reaching out to her!
I already send mail several times a week although not every day! I would like to send more mail to my actual family members…like my Dad…and my grandparents!
I’m in! Can’t wait!
Michelle´s last [type] ..Queue Come Early
i would send mail to my friend ella in hawaii!
What a fun challenge! I will start by sending a card to my children (who love getting mail).
P.S. LOVE your blog! Thank you for sharing it.
SB
Beautiful idea. I love receiving mail and thus I should do better about sending it out myself. I’m excited to try this challenge, hopefully it will help me be more intentional in making time to sit down and send mail to people who are so important to me.
Meghan´s last [type] ..currently: october
I’d first send one to my grandmother. I’ve been meaning to write her a good letter for some time
Kaitlyn´s last [type] ..thoughts about being 23
Fabulous idea – a challenge always gets me motivated. Have you already started your 30 days or are you doing it in the month of November? I think that’s what I’ll do. Excited to get out my pretty cards I’ve stashed and send them away.
Kathleen´s last [type] ..Back to Blogging
I would love to snail mail my grandmother on Guam. She’s old school and loves to receive letters from her grandchildren. Every year I send her holiday cards.
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Oh, good idea! Love it – I love new stationery!
Most of my nearest and dearest friends live out of state, so they would be the first on my snail mail list!
I think the challenge is an amazing idea. Letter-writing never went out of style with me. Glad to know there are others who feel the same!
Ashley´s last [type] ..my first love.
I am joining Amy’s Thank You Note project through November so this is wonderful!!! Count me in!!!
Heather´s last [type] ..Things that might surprise you about me
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