Snail Mail and Elongating Connection
When did you last send a card to someone?
I’ve been doing a lot of clearing out; we are off on a new adventure, and it means packing up a whole flat. Very different this time from packing up a whole house, or clearing out my mother’s place.
I’m behaving differently around ‘whittling’ this time. I’m watching for all the things that I really can let go of. It’s very liberating. There’s something wonderful about only having the things that you want around you. I’m learning how live life more and more ‘just in time’, not just in case.
What does this have to do with snail mail?
I’m one of those people that always has stamps and cards and envelopes to hand to send a thought -literally – to someone. It means even more these days, because it’s something that doesn’t happen often. Think about it, when you get a card out of the blue, dropping onto your door mat, how good does that feel?!
During all the clearing, I’m coming across many things, including my stash of old client notes that are no longer needed; I’m diligently shredding away and letting them go. But every now and then, something magical happens. Someone’s book proposal, hesitantly put together, worked on by both of us; another’s first online course outline; an affirmation crafted to support yet another. These are all now ‘in the world’, creating and doing good. It’s been wonderful to grab an envelope, pop it in the post – all in the anticipation of the delight they will bring when they get the ‘look what you did!’ or the ‘how far you’ve come since this’. Pieces of history, starting points. Joy.
Snail mail used to be one of our only forms of communication. It’s still a hugely impactful way to bring a smile, and a LASTING one at that, to someone in this always on world. Getting a card or letter (!) helps us to slow others down and get them connected to their nervous systems in an entirely different way from how a text or an email does.
Have a think about who you might love to impact like this, this week.
Whatever name came in, make a little pledge to send a note – it will make a difference to you, and to them, for sure. Yes, it’s more ‘faffy’ – but THAT is the point. You’ll slow down and have an experience with the recipient way before they even know it. They’ll slow down and smile in receipt of it. The waves of connection are much further reaching. Try it.
That’s me for the week.