It’s been a busy few days for me (when is it not busy? Oh yeah, like, never these days), but fortunately there is a way to slow things down and reexamine your life.
I was on Facebook, and Heloise (who I met this summer, in PEI) was online too. I realized that I’d kept in contact with some others (Jade, Yurie) by sending them postcards, but not with Heloise for some reason. So I messaged her out of the blue, asking her if she’d like one, and she was all “omgyay here’s my address I’m so happy!!!”
And that made me feel good.
For the next few minutes, I wrote a short note to her, not on Facebook but on a picture postcard of Trempealeau County that I picked up somewhere along the way and had laying around. It was just a moment of my day, but it reminded me that it’s good to do random acts of kindness for other humans, and that taking a step back to just write a message in your fanciest penmanship on a pretty postcard is good (not all steps back are good though, especially if you’re standing on the edge of a cliff. Don’t do that).
Then, I had to search for a stamp.
I had a book of Elvis stamps somewhere around the apartment, but in the most recent cleaning-and-moving-shit-around spree I had misplaced them, so after I tore up my apartment, again, I remembered that I had bought some backup stamps, Ingrid Bergman ones, expressly for this purpose and left them in my car. I went downstairs, got two stamps, came back up, and stamped the postcard. Good to go. In a week or so, I will hopefully get an excited message on Facebook or maybe even something in the mail in return.
And that’s why it’s always important to have at least two books of stamps in your possession.
“it’s good to do random acts of kindness for other humans” WOW. I am doing something similar. I am penning down some deepest thoughts on a birthday card for my friend. I hope she likes it 🙂
Good on you Chiru!
That’s such a sweet gesture! I think I’ll take a pointer or two out of it 🙂
Thanks, Adi! Go ahead.
Hi there!
I *LoVe* this idea . . I did some penpalling a few yrs ago & it was great getting wee letters etc. back in the post . . 😊
Maria . . x
Thank you Maria! I love writing (and getting) mail.
Wow, I didn’t think anyone under the age of 50 or so even knew how to send regular mail these days. And postcards are special.
You bet your bippie, Cordeliasmom!
A letter or post card is even more special than it used to be in this world of instant communication. Good job. –Curt
Thanks, Curt!
That’s so cool – letter writing is a lost art and a lost form of connection. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Letter Writers Alliance, but they’re all about revitalizing interest in letter writjng. And a letter I got from my new pen pal had one of those neat Ingrid stamps, too!
Cool! I had not heard!
I love that random act of yours, Jacob! Life sure does pass by so fast we barely have time to take a moment and do something random and sweet like sending letters or postcards. Your post made me realize that. Thanks 🙂
You’re welcome Sarah! Hope you are inspired to do something little and kind today.