@bethvogt
I accepted a challenge this week.
Not a physical challenge involving upping my exercise. Not a health challenge to decrease my calories or carbs. Not a decluttering challenge to attack my closets or my garage.
What did I say yes to? I accepted an invitation to a Five-Day Card and Note Writing Challenge, thanks to my writer friend Elizabeth Cottrell.
Quite an undertaking, right?
For me? Yes, yes, it is.
In the middle of 2020, I’d determined to get back to writing notes to friends and family. I even made a monthly list of who I’d sent notes to, which means I can easily see when my effort trailed off … and then stopped altogether in early 2021.
I enjoy sending cards and notes to family and friends. There’s something a bit magical about writing a note to someone … slipping it into an envelope … addressing it … putting a stamp on it … and then depositing it in the mailbox.
Now here’s the truly magical part: I never know when my card is going to arrive, but it always seems to arrive at just the right time. Even when I’d meant to send the card sooner, someone will say, “Oh, your note arrived on just the right day!”
Perfect timing – you can’t control stuff like that when you’re committing a card to the whims of the postal service.
With everything else going on in the world, talking about writing notes to others may seem unimportant. But if you pause for just a moment, you might recall receiving a “just at the right time” note that contained the words you needed at that moment. As my friend Elizabeth has posted on her Heartspoken website, “Send love by mail … send notes that comfort, encourage, and inspire …”
Stop and think for just a moment: When was the last time you wrote someone a note – more than just signing your name on a pre-made card? How did you feel sending it on it’s journey? When was the last time you opened your mailbox and discovered a handwritten note from someone? How did you feel when you saw it waiting for you?
How We Create Magic with Handwritten Notes #communication #relationships Click To Tweet#'...I loved the idea that you can put marks on a page and send it off, and two days later, someone laughs somewhere else in the world.' #quote by novelist David Nicholls #letterwriting #communication Click To Tweet
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Comments 15
My smartphone thinks that it knows
the words that I should write and say;
it’s modern life, and so it goes,
and by and large, that is OK.
But I still have a box of letters
from the friends I knew before,
freed now from their earthly fetters,
and whose script I’ll see no more,
and this somehow becomes great treasure,
notes writ in a human hand,
in which lines I see pain and pleasure
that can help me understand
my place here in the scheme of things,
and responsibility that it brings.
Author
Thank you for this beautiful poem, Andrew. It’s just … perfect.
Praying for you, my friend.
Lovely sentiments, Beth. I agree about sending notes – that they always arrive at just the right time. I wish more people would reciprocate! A couple of years ago, I kept a note-writing diary, at least one card every week. I was somewhat disappointed that I got only a handful of handwritten responses. Most Thank Yous came as a text or a message. Oh well, at least I shared my light with others! I am in the Heartspoken Challenge as well, and it’s been fun.
Author
Hi, Karen: How fun to know you’re part of the Heartspoken Challenge, too. And I love your idea of a note-writing diary. I think we have to trust a lack of in-kind reciprocation doesn’t mean the handwritten note wasn’t valued. We write the note and release it …
Hand written notes are gold! We’ve made a tradition of writing personal reflections in our children’s birthday and celebration cards–a way to mark their growth as people and show them that we see them, love them, and are proud of them. The wonderful outflow of this is now receiving the same meaningful notes in our cards. I’ve saved every one: reminders of their love and of the wonderful relationships we share.
When I think of what I can pursue with writing, personal letters always come to mind. Perhaps I will take this challenge into 2022.
Author
Bernadette: I’m certain your children treasure the handwritten notes your given them over the years. What a wonderful family tradition. And like you, I’ve renewed my commitment to handwritten notes as I move into 2022.
Let’s do it mama 👊🏼
Beth, your topic is timely. My 13 yr old granddaughter had suggested in a letter to me & Gene last Christmas that we write letters to each other. Well I failed then and ran across her letter in some mail.
So I made my own stationary personalizing for her and hand-wrote a two page letter and mailed yesterday. I went back to my college days and told her how her Pop Pop and I wrote letters to each other during college when we left our college to go to different schools. That was 1974. I also shared that my mom sent me letters that freshman year up until she died at age 53 near the end of my freshman year.
It’s never too late and I’m one who tends to hold onto all the letters and cards I receive.
Thanks Beth!
Author
You’re right. It’s never too late, my friend. I’m certain she will love hearing the memories you shared with her.
I write notes/letters to my friend Dawn.
Author
It’s nice to have a regular friend to write to, isn’t it?
I love making cards and sending them. Often, I have great intentions, but I tend to get distracted and lack follow-through in a timely manner. But you’re right–there is joy in receiving words from a friend at just the right time.
Author
Lisa: It’s so important to remember that even imperfect effort is still worth doing. Sometimes we get tripped up by the whole “It has to be perfect” trap. But something done with love is better than doing nothing, right? And your card creations are beautiful.
I am unable to write due to uncontrollable tremors. I do however like to email friends. I know it’s not the same but it’s the best I can do!
Author
Brenda: I think it is the same, in the sense that you are connecting with friends from the heart in the way that works for you. And I’m certain they appreciate your emails.