Let’s Bring Back Snail Mail

In today’s world, the Internet has made things so easy and convenient. With just the click of a button, you can have pretty much anything and everything delivered right to your front door. It really is amazing and SO helpful, especially to us mamas who do not want to drag a couple toddlers through the store with us.

Another aspect of the Internet making things easy on us? Social media. With just ONE post you can reach out to all of your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, ex-classmates, and anyone else on your list. You can add a picture of your kids, showing off their latest accomplishment or growth spurt. You can send an e-card to someone on their birthday, free of charge, and delivered immediately. You can say “Merry Christmas” just ONCE and it will reach hundreds of people. SUPER convenient, right? I agree. But, to me, it is also sad. Social media has allowed us to connect to so many people at once that the personalization has all gone away.

I remember being a newlywed, in our new house, only receiving the “current resident” ads in the mail. Then, one day, familiar handwriting greeted me in the mailbox. My grandma had sent me a card and inside she simply said “Sometimes, it’s nice to see something other than bills in the mail.” That was over five years ago and that saying has stuck with me (as has the card!). At the time, we only lived about 20 miles apart, but it didn’t stop us from sending each other cards or letters every once in a while. Now, I live over 2,000 miles away from my pen pal. She sends cards on almost every holiday, hand-written letters, and sometimes includes a clipping from the local paper’s comics. Let me tell y’all something, I get WAY more excited about seeing something personal in the mail than I do seeing notifications online.

So, here’s my challenge for you: pick five people you care about (more is absolutely welcome, but five is a great starting point!) and send them something via snail mail. It does not have to be some long, extravagant letter or some fancy expensive Hallmark card. Simple is fine, because as cliché as it sounds, it truly is the thought that counts.

Here are a couple ideas to get you started with snail mail!

• A simple blank card (you can get packs of 10 at the dollar store!) with a quick note. Add in a picture, newspaper clipping, or even a pressed leaf or flower to make it personal.
• Make a card. So many ways to go with this one! Cricut machines can do the work for you, and within minutes you can have a unique piece to send. Or, get a pack of blank craft cards (or even just some construction paper), some stamps and markers, and make it your own.
• Handprint or footprint art. Have a fun craft day with your kids, then mail the artwork! Grandparents especially will love this. There are so many great ideas out there; you could do this a couple times a year and they will receive a fun, colorful growth chart of their own.

We can’t let the ease and convenience of the Internet take away the personal connections we have with our loved ones. Let’s bring back snail mail! Let me know in the comments how you plan to reach out to your loved ones via snail mail.