Last year I came across a box full of letters my Mom wrote me during college. I poured over them, cherishing the hand written words form my Mom in her own handwriting … making them even more treasured now that she is gone. I am so thankful that my Mom took the time to write me these letters … grant it ‘back in the day’ this really was the main way of communicating (besides calling on the phone – long distance fees applied so those were limited). Regardless, I am so glad that I have them! It prompted me to ask the question, “What will my daughter find in her dusty old attic when she’s 50 that will make her smile with memories and perhaps offer some comforting words of wisdom that she most needs to hear in that moment?” Will emails, texts, and of course, loads of FB posts, and even this blog suffice? What will she be able to hold in her hand and up to her heart in her mom’s own handwriting … words and thoughts from the past sending love directly to her in the future? In my opinion, only pen and paper in my own handwriting will be a gift that she will cherish above all else … the lost art of letter writing.
So this year, I have begun a letter writing campaign to my daughter and her future self. I’ve created some useful tips and #habithacks to help me keep up with a goal of writing her one letter a week. She still lives at home, but this time next year she will be off to college, so it’s a perfect time to start. I’m not sure when I will send her these letters … if I’ll send them one at a time or given them to her all at once to read at her own prompting and time. I trust God will let me know what’s best. In the meantime, I’m enjoying putting my thoughts in a letter knowing that someday they will be exactly what she needs to hear.
Set up a Letter Writing Station
Create a place to put all your letter writing materials so it’s always handy when inspiration strikes.
Use beautiful papers, pen and stickers
Flow Magazine has beautiful paper books, complete with matching envelopes and stickers.
Journal ideas
Make sure you have a place to jot down ideas of topics for letters you want to write. Oftentimes I’ll have sparks of inspiration on topics I want to write a letter about, but don’t have time to put pen to paper in the moment. Writing them down in a journal you keep handy will ensure you don’t forget and always have a plethora of topics/ideas when you do have time to sit down and write the letter.
Inspirational Books
I love Alexander Stoddard books … and especially the one about the Gift of the Letter.
I hope this prompts you to start your own Letter Writing challenge to a loved one in your life.