April is National Card & Letter Writing Month
The U.S. Postal Service celebrates April as National Card and Letter Writing Month “to raise awareness of the importance and historical significance of card and letter writing.”
“Sure, email and texting is quick and convenient, and Facebook has photos and videos, but nothing beats the thrill and excitement of opening your mailbox and finding a personal letter addressed to you,” said U.S. Postal Service Judicial Officer William Campbell
Remember real mail? Unfortunately, finding handwritten letters in your mailbox is not as common as it once was. Aside from the holidays, how often do you write, address, and stamp beautiful stationery? Probably not too often. This is why we need to encourage more writing and sending mail!
"After all, nothing else cultivates a romance, nurtures a friendship, or helps you stay connected like a hand-written card or letter.”
Why send cards and letters?
Writing someone shows that you took the time to sit down and thought about the other person. The person receiving your envelope in the mailbox knows that you care about them. It literally makes my day when I receive a handwritten note in the mail! I believe most people feel the same.
So, grab your favorite pen and some quality stationery! It also helps to have a nice organized space on which to work.
Here are some ideas to get started:
- Check your calendar for special people and occasions to start making your list.
- Check your card and stationery stash. (We have plenty of beautiful stationery to choose from!)
- Brush up on how to address an envelope
- Stamps are like tiny pieces of art—order new stamp designs from the post office.
How to write a heartfelt personal note
While Birthdays and Holidays get a lot of attention, you can send a card or letter for any reason!
Need some help getting started? Check out this list of tips from Hallmark for all your writing needs:
- Opening: Start with “dear” or even “dearest.” Or try “hi” or “hello” or the old-school charm of “greetings.” Add the recipient’s name and you’re off!
- Say why you’re writing: Let the recipient know what got you thinking of them today. Helpful tip: Be specific, like “I heard [name of song]” or “I baked [type of cookie] with your recipe” or some other true, real-life nugget.
- Go on a bit: Add a line or two more about why you’re writing. Add a specific thought about the story, a detail about the day, a compliment or a comment. Helpful tip: Focus on the recipient and what they might want or need to hear from you.
- Reaffirm your relationship: Finish with a little reminder of why your recipient matters to you. It can be as simple as “you always make me smile,” as serious as “I care about you very much” or anywhere in between.
- Say it again: End with a quick reminder of your reason for writing. It’s kind of like a bookend…or the closing of one of those five-paragraph essays from high school.
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Finish strong: Here are some great examples to try…
Sincerely
Best wishes
Cheers
Love
XOXO
Yours truly
Your friend
Warmly
…and sign your name. That’s it!
PS: Your note doesn’t have to be long. Just sincere!
Want some ideas for decorating your envelopes? Check out our blog post all about it!
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @teNeuesnycstationery