Handwritten Letter

There is something special about a handwritten letter. We’re so used to communicating with our friends and family via quick texts, social media comments and phone calls that most people don’t send or receive letters. With the festive season potentially being very different this year again, and some people not being able to be with their friends and family during this time, I thought it would be nice to look at ways to lessen the disappointment of not being able to have Christmas as we know it. I’m challenging you to write a handwritten letter to a friend or family member!

One of my favourite parts of packing orders from the shop is writing a handwritten note to thank the person for their purchase. It takes a little bit more time, but I think it’s worth it as I hope it helps the person feel the gratitude I have for their support and I hope it puts a smile on their face, if only for a moment.

So, my challenge for you today is to write at least one letter to a family member or friend and post it to them. It doesn’t have to be really emotional or serious, you can keep it fun and light-hearted - you could even include a small flat gift. Whether it’s for someone that is just in another county or in a completely different country, you can brighten their day with a letter they can cherish. The great thing about letters is that their value increases over time, people can keep their letters for years to come and come back to it whenever they want.

IDEAS FOR HANDWRITTEN LETTERS

There’s no set way to tell you how to write handwritten letters. Like I mentioned it can be whatever you want it to be! But here are some ideas to inspire you and get you started:

• Keep it light-hearted and fun! Write a letter to your brother or sister reminding them of a funny memory or send an inside joke to your cousin that you’ll know they’ll appreciate. Anything that you know will brighten their day, especially if they’ve been feeling down or lonely lately.
• Send a letter of gratitude. Send a letter to your parents or grandparents thanking them for all they did for you growing up or maybe there’s a friend that’s always there when you need a helping hand. Let them know how much you appreciate them.
• Include a small gift. Of course it will have to be flat enough to fit in an envelope and go through the letterbox! Some ideas include a postcard, photo, drawing, stickers or a recipe card.
• Send a heartfelt letter. If you know you don’t say it often enough, let them know you love them and list all the reasons why. This is sure to put a smile on their face.
• Keep the family updated. Maybe you have some big news to share - a promotion, new house or engagement? Surprise your family overseas with the news via letter - you can also include a photo to go with it.

If you really want to go all out, you can buy some special paper, stationery and envelopes to send your letter in. But you could also just use some lined paper from your notebook, or even get a greeting card they’ll love to write your message in.