January 28, 2012

A Month of Letters Challenge

When I was a kid, my sisters and I fought over running to the mailbox. Whoever got there first was privy to the contents and could hand out the letters and look at the magazines and catalogues first. My kids don't run, to them it is a chore.

Few people send letters anymore. The only time my kids run to the mailbox is the few days before and after their birthdays. They can't wait to see who sends a card or a present. My mother is great about sending them mail for every occasion and sometimes out of the blue. Their faces always light up when they receive something just for them.

Back in the day, I had pen pals assigned through school and Girl Scouts. It was so fun to find out about someone through letters. Sadly, it's a dying art.

I still love to get a letter, but it happens less and less. In the last few years, I've even noticed fewer people send Christmas cards. It's a shame. There's something so personal about a letter and knowing someone took the time to think of you. An email is just not the same.

So, when I heard about the A Month of Letters Challenge, I knew I had to participate. The rules are simple:

* In the month of February, mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.

* Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.

I hope you'll consider joining me. And if you love letters as much as I do, please leave a comment with a way to contact you and we'll exchange addresses. Who knows what we might discover about one another.

Do you love to get a letter? When is the last time you got one unexpectedly?

18 comments:

Katrina said...

What an interesting concept....I can recall having several pen pals as a kid...I think i was fairly hopeless at writing though which would be why I have lost contact....my issue would be that I don't think I actually know enough people to send letters to...but will have a think about this when my brain gets into action this morning...have a think about who i could write to and see if this would be possible

bookworm said...

I don't think I have gotten an actual letter from someone since....probably July of 2003. My aunt, who passed away in August of that year, still was writing letters to me, and others. I enjoyed getting her letters so much! I even enjoy getting cards through the mail. Are you thinking of signing up for the challenge at the website, or just writing a letter a day? I am going to be writing a blog post on this today....

bookworm said...

I looked again, and see you are using the Month of Letters stamp, so you have signed up. I may do it "unofficially" so it remains a pleasure and not a commitment.

Family Bugs - Sarah said...

This is a very good idea. I have always enjoyed getting letters, I actually had a penpal as well when I was younger. I think this is a good challenge to go on. I just wish I could justify spending the money on stamps :-P

http://www.familybugs.net

Beth said...

Received my stamp order from the post office today (I like the cute ones and my post office runs out) so I don't have any excuses not to do this one...

Tia Bach said...

Katrina, I hope you'll use February to send cards. I bet you'll be surprised how many people you think to write to.

Alana, I did officially sign up, but only so I'd stick to it. I'm excited. I love letters. Shoot me your address (on the Blogathon group), and I'll write you, too.

Sarah, I hope you'll join in. ;-)

Beth, Be on the lookout for your letter. You are definitely getting one!

Natalie Hartford said...

What a fantastic idea and concept. I think that is one of the best things about Christmas, getting cards and well wishes in the mail. Every day we stop by the mailbox excited to see what surprises await us. The rest of the year, we pick up the mail weekly. LOL! I've got a full February already but...I am going to try to incorporate the idea and send one or two letters/cards/postcards a month to friends or family!

Tia Bach said...

Natalie, I think that's a great idea. After February's challenge, I really hope to incorporate letter writing more into my life. I'm thinking of getting my kids involved too! ;-)

Thanks for being such a wonderful supporter of my little blog!

Kate @ Teaching What Is Good said...

GREAT idea! I'm in. In past semesters we had Letter Writing Wednesday as part of our school. This year we'll do it the entire month of February. Thanks!!

Tia Bach said...

Kate, Great seeing you here! I'm so excited to write letters. I hope you all enjoy it.

Unknown said...

I love getting letters, but I agree that it's a dying art.

I usually send out A LOT of holiday cards, complete with family letter. This past year I sent out a PDF (with links to family videos and fun stuff) that I thought might be neat for people to see. The cost of postage has gotten to be so much that, with as many letters and cards as I typically send, I was spending upwards of $100! Sadly, we received very few holiday cards or emails in return.

This year I'll go back to sending out actual cards and letters to everyone, despite the cost. Sending a PDF - even with live links that people could click on - just didn't feel the same.

Tia Bach said...

Melissa, I received a couple of really cool PDF-style Christmas cards this year, but it wasn't the same as getting a letter. But I also don't like just pictures sent and no handwritten words. I at least write a sentence and sign it.

Kelly. said...

I love this idea so much! In December I started a similar thing for my best friend where I sent her a pretty box and, randomly, I would send her little trinkets, letters, pictures etc that all meant something to 'us'. Generally I sent them when she was feeling down - I think she has quite a lot in that box now.

I don't tend to get much that's nice in the mail though. I have a friend in Canada that writes to me every few months but that's it really.

I think I definitely will have to purchase some nice writing paper for this occasion.

I can't wait to find some penpals! x3

http://kellycautillo.wordpress.com/

Tia Bach said...

Kelly, I hope you enjoy. I think I'll buy some nice writing paper, too. What a lovely idea! Thanks for visiting and commenting!

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell said...

Tia,
I love this idea. Letter writing is such a lost art--my father used to write each one of his kids a letter every Sunday evening. Now, nearing 90, he has slowed and nearly stopped, which breaks my heart.

It hit me, when I was so excited to have found a house in Albany, that I had no people to give the address to, only companies. I was so sad to realize this fact!

Brava to you and all in the challenge breathing life back into letters.

Annette Gendler said...

Tia, it's uncanny how much we think alike! Yesterday it was the foggy brain, today it's writing letters. I'm seriously considering joining even though I hesitate at one more to-do on my list, but it's such an wonderfully old fashioned idea, and so amazing to me that it should be organized by a group of bloggers. In any case, I'd be happy to exchange actual addresses!

Tia Bach said...

Annette, I take that as such a compliment! Yes, let's exchange addresses. Email me yours at etjrbach at yahoo dot com, and I'll email mine back.

Should be a great month!

Tia Bach said...

Thanks, Elizabeth. When I saw this challenge, I just knew I had to do it. I miss letters! Hope you'll send some this month, too.