I love getting mail–the old fashioned USPS “snail mail”. I like leafing through the pile and once in a while spotting a hand-written envelope or postcard that is not a bill or an advertisement but an actual piece of mail that someone I know personally wrote my name and address on, stamped it, then dropped it in a mail box somewhere. I also like looking through magazines, weekly grocery circulars, and even catalogs that I’ll probably not even buy anything from. E-mail is a communication wonder and even the plethora of social media and it’s so easy just reach out and update someone or thank them and put it in the electronic version of a pile of mail (junk mail most likely).
Starting in November I always see my Facebook friends start a daily note of thanks on social media. I truly like seeing this and how much more powerful would that be if the notes of thanks went out in the mail to say a sincere, thoughtful ‘thank you’ so someone in your life. Personally, I’m a huge failure when it comes to popping envelopes in the mail, much less actually writing and addressing a quick note. I used to be a great pen pal and even made time to write letters and notes. Slowly my letter writing dropped off as my life got busier with kids, business, and other activities and email was just so much easier. That is all about to change. It only takes about 15 minutes to write a note, address an envelope and put it in the mailbox. I can do that while enjoying my first cup of coffee in the morning or during those few minutes in the evening when I’m getting ready for bed or even waiting for food to come at a restaurant.
I want to introduce you to a book that has inspired this Snail Mail Correspondence Challenge: 365 Thank Yous: The Year A Simple Act Of Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik.
The author was at a rocky place in his life and decided to recognize things that he was grateful for. He wrote one ‘thank you’ note every single day for a year to a variety of people including family, friends, kids, distant relatives, former business collegues, and even people who served him coffee or showed kindness in the regular everyday interactions. He started seeing his thank you notes make a difference and delight people who least expected his correspondence and thanked him in return for noticing them and making them feel special. His life was changed for the good just by having the intention of sending a daily thank you note that translated eventually into having a thankful heart as a daily way of living. It really challenged him to think of someone every day who made even a sliver of his day or week pleasant.
Snail Mail Correspondence Challenge rules:
- 30 consecutive days of sending a note, letter, or postcard with a stamp. You can do your own 30-day challenge any time you want, especially when you want to me more connected in an organic way! You can send more than one a day if you wish, but every single day at least one needs to be send via the United States Post Office (Snail Mail).
- Be prepared for success by purchasing simple writing paper and envelopes or a stationery set, or a variety pack of cards that are blank on the inside. Purchase 2 books of stamps (20 to a book) for $9.80 each (no excuses because you can get these at the grocery store checkout line if you have no idea where your local USPS is). This 30-day Snail Mail Correspondence Challenge can cost as little as $30 for the month or maybe a little more if you love fancier stationery.
- Sundays count! Your Sunday notes will go out on Monday, no matter where you send it from. 30 consecutive days.
- Christmas or any other obligitory holiday cards or a pile of wedding invitations do not count. This challenge is to send organic, spontaneous correspondence.
- Be resourceful getting addresses. If it is someone who helped you at a store or coffee shop it’s easy to find that address and address it to the employee because they probably had a name tag on.
- Your correspondence does not have to be all thank you notes. It can also be dropping someone an update about something in your life and asking how they are. It can be a postcard from somewhere you recently visited, or even a couple of pictures that actually make it out of your phone camera or camera memory card (yes, this takes a bit of effort downloading it and sending it to Walgreens to be printed on actual photo paper).
- SHARE!! Share the challenge on social media, share your progress or comments here and any feedback you receive as a result of your effort. I promise you will be inspired and will inspire others to reach out offline.