Just Write

Back in the day, I used to be a letter writing champion. Between my best friend, my pen pal, and my sister, we could keep an entire postal service busy and still have time to attend school. There was something pure and amazing about putting pen to paper, or that special stationery that you spent too long picking out. I have very vivid memories of Circus stamps being all the craze when I was in 7th grade. They were a hot commodity, and I just HAD to have them. I don’t think that I’ve ever worked so hard for postage stamps in my life. They were beautiful. Now, I’m collecting Disney, Harry Potter, Black Heritage and Batman stamps. 

Which brings me to this point. I miss mail. I don’t mean email either. I miss genuinely handwritten postcards or letters. I’ve tried to send them out to people as they cross my mind. If I see a card in the store that resonates with me, I usually purchase it, and get to writing when I get home. Sometimes, I’ll make my own cards on my Cricut which Mr. Houseful bought for me, but that’s another story and another post entirely. One of these days, my crafty gene will come back for sure, and I’ll make cards for Christmas, and all of the birthdays that I know. Aspirations. 

If you’re anything like me, and a lover of mail, you’re also a lover of writing utensils. Pens, paper, journals, planners. You name it, I love it. Apparently, I surround myself with people like me because my fans of writing love the good stuff too. While I was in Target with my cousin Renee a couple of weeks ago, we spied a pen set that was rainbow-colored and way past my spending limit. I got them anyway. It just adds to my set of Sharpie fine tipped markers, because I like to be spontaneous. Writing a quick note and slapping a batman stamp on it? Yes! That’s me. 

Sometimes, writing helps me to remember great moments that I’ve had with a person. It also keeps me aware of all that I am blessed with. Friends who give freely of themselves without expecting anything in return. Friends far and wide that I can visit if I wanted to. Friends who will drop things for you to talk out a problem over the phone, or listen to you cry when you think about how much you miss your sister. Those types of friends. 

I’ve been blessed to have many good friends. Friends that have lasted decades. Friends that I’ve made in the last year or two. The ones that stick around are the most amazing. The ones who don’t become weirded out when I become silent, or sad. Remember those posts about depression that I wrote? Yeah, there were friends who helped, and still help me through my rough times. I appreciate them. 

It’s a small price to pay to send a smile in the mail, you know? A forever stamp and maybe purchased notecards, or postcards. Time spent in the stationery stores or aisles in big box stores. It doesn’t matter where you get it from, but what type of writing you put into it. 

So here’s my challenge to all of you. Pick up a pen. It doesn’t need to be fancy, or even another color besides black or blue. Pick up a sheet of paper, or a card, or a notecard. Buy some stamps. If you must continue your introverted ways, order them online at the United States Postal Service website, but just do it. Make sure to buy quirky ones. Give those envelopes some pizzazz. And do wonderful addressing on the outside as well. There are a ton of inspirational photos out there for you.

Now pardon me as I go and write some more. Maybe the next letter will come to you.