I love technology and the way that it helps to make our lives easier. The world is at our finger tips these days, so we no longer have to wait weeks or months for snail mail to arrive {think Little House on the Prairie} in order to keep in touch. And though phone calls are great, let’s be honest, it can be hard to carve out the time for them on a regular basis.
Email, texting and social media are a great way to keep in touch with people who you love and care about, especially when time is very limited. It’s not a perfect option, but it’s certainly better than nothing. Though we’ve come a long way as far as communication and there are so many positives to them, I think there’s something to be said about the beauty of a handwritten note.
The other day, I was cleaning my dresser off and came across a sweet card from a dear friend who had remembered the anniversary of our first child’s stillbirthday. It was such a treasure to be able to re-read her heartfelt sentiments over our loss that occurred 6 years ago back in August.
I think most of us would agree that handwritten notes are the ideal. If we’ve ever received a handwritten note or card, then we know how they make us feel thought of, remembered, and loved. They don’t always have to be serious or deep – sometimes comical ones are just what we need to read on a hard day.
I don’t know about you, but I desire to send more handwritten notes or cards to those who God brings to my mind. My heart is in the right place, but my execution is far from stellar. {I’m working on it though}. So, in order to help you and me reach our goal of sending more handwritten cards, I thought I’d share 4 ideas for how to send more.
1. Shop for them once a month {ideally at the beginning}
I have done this before and it has been so helpful. Take a look at your calendar and make a list of holidays/occasions that you’d like to remember. Then, make a trip to the store and snag them all at once. I love Hallmark cards, but they are pricey, so I often snag cards from The Dollar Tree. I like to do this at the beginning of the month when my momentum is usually higher and our budget is on track. I’m usually tired at the end of the month!
2. Keep a small stash of generic cards at home
I always keep some thank you notes on hand at home, since I am big on thank you notes, but you can also keep generic/blank cards on hand as well. The card itself doesn’t have to be personalized for the specific occasion or sentiment. I often snag mine from Target* when they are on clearance. They usually have some really cute options.
3. Keep a book of stamps on hand at all times
Having stamps is not always a given in our house. I’m slowly transitioning to paying most of our bills online {I know, I am so behind the times!}, so I only mail out about 2 or 3 bills each month. I have to be intentional about keeping stamps on hand. The good news is that there are so many options for purchasing them. Most grocery stores sell them and the ATM at my bank does as well {although at a slightly higher price}. It’s likely that you may not even have to make a separate trip to the post office to get them, which is so convenient!
4. Put this on your calendar or add it to your to-do list
I’m a list maker and have fallen in love with my Wunderlist app and my Google calendar. If you need reminders, then add them! Oftentimes, my best intentions don’t come to fruition simply because I don’t make the time to sit down and execute. I’m sure you and I can snag 10 minutes once a month to write a couple of notes.
I so want to be better about writing and sending notes to the precious people in my life. Some are going through hard times, some live far away and may feel forgotten, and others may just need a little encouragement. I know how much handwritten notes have meant to me and I’d love to pay it forward!
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