Connections

When was the last time you sat down and actually wrote a letter to someone?  Hand wrote it, and then mailed it and waited excitedly to hear that they received it and then impatiently waited for their hand written reply so you could again sit down and write to them?

Or when was the last time you bought a card, hand wrote a message in it, and then mailed it?  Yea, probably been a long time huh?  (Though I'm sure there's at least one of you reading this that has a penpal, because chances are you're MY penpal!  LOL Seriously though, I'm sure at least one other of you do this, but I'd hope that it was more than that.)

There's really something to be said about forging real life connections.  Now please don't get me wrong.  I have forged (and I'm sure most if not all of you have) true, wonderful friendships and other relationships online.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this and indeed has helped many of us meet others with similar beliefs, ideas, interests and possibly even medical issues.  The internet really does help us keep in touch with people, learn things and not feel so alone.

However, let me tell you.  Whenever I receive a card or letter in the mail my heart sings and I can't wait to open it!  For one thing, its a break from junk mail.  For another thing, it's something that someone took the time to write.  For me.  Whomever wrote that card or letter, took the time out of their day to get the stationary (or card, or paper or whatever), grab a pen or pencil and write something.  Just for me.  Even if it's a thank you card that they sent out to a lot of people, they still thought that whatever I did/sent/gave to them warranted a card with a hand written note in it.  That's something, it really, really is.

Growing up my mother harped and lectured and harped about sending cards.  And I always "got" it when it was a birthday card, wedding card, sympathy card, things like this.  But a thank you card?  I never understood that and my mom was never good at explanations and so I've never really understood it until now; at least the thank you card thing.

Just the other day I received a beautifully hand-written thank you card from a coven sister's Priestess Initiation ritual.  Reading the sweet note she had hand-written in there really got me on the bandwagon for thank you cards.  And it really reinforced my belief in the need (especially in this digital day and age) for hand written, cards and letters that are sent through the mail.  And all the connection reasons aside, it also gives our poor postal workers something to do (seriously, the usps is in hard times).

For all the people in my life that I've lost, I have received one sympathy card, and I cherish it.  I treasure it and I keep it in a box that is now overflowing with other letters and cards I've received.  There's something special and amazing to me, looking at that box, knowing I need a new one, and knowing that every one of those things in there someone thought enough of me that they would write it and send it to me.

And it's also why, every year for the last 4 years now (4th year this year) I write a letter ever Winter Solstice about what I'd been up to that year and send it to family and friends.  Last year I sent at least 20, this year it'll probably be up to 30.  Some of them I also send photos and every card, I hand write something on the card itself (I type and print the letter).

So in that vein...I challenge every one of you who reads this to send at least one letter or card this winter.  Don't put a present in it; let your words that you take the time to hand write to be that gift.  Send it to a friend, a relative, or someone you've only known online.  Let them know that you are thinking of them. Let them know that they are important enough to you that you would write that letter/note, address that envelope, put a stamp on it, and help ensure your postal carrier that they have a job.