It always makes my day when I open my mailbox to a handwritten letter from a friend. I have always loved writing and receiving notes and I intend to keep handwritten correspondence a priority in my life. With the speed of technology, it is becoming more and more rare to receive words written by hand. There is still a simple and beautiful way to maintain this art: postcards!
I vividly remember the first time I was introduced to postcards. Growing up, my siblings and I rarely had a babysitter, but when we did it was always our sweet neighbor, Mrs. Trainor. The first time she came to our house she had two shoeboxes tucked under her arm. We were immediately intrigued and began speculating as to what treasure was hidden within these mysterious boxes. When she opened the boxes, we saw that they were filled to the brim with postcards. For the next hour and a half my siblings and I sat with her, admiring the beautiful pictures and designs of each postcard.
Each postcard featured an accompanying story from Mrs. Trainor. When she left for the day, we felt as if we had traveled both the country and the world with her. Each time she went on a trip, she made sure to purchase at least one postcard to add to her collection. These allowed her to remember her each of her many trips for years to come.
Mrs. Trainor’s tradition is an easy one that you can adopt today. Postcards are an inexpensive and unique souvenir that can be purchased at many destinations. Taking a minute to write a short note on a postcard is a quick and meaningful way to share your travels with friends and family. Postcards are also a great way to introduce children to the lost art of writing letters by hand. In the midst of our daily hustle and bustle, let’s be intentional about reclaiming authentic communication, one postcard at a time.
Do you have a favorite postcard that you have sent or received?
