It started out as a hobby, but now it is one of the only things keeping me sane. Every weekend, I turn off my phone and take a break from school. I sit down at my desk, wheel over my my rolly cart full of cards, envelopes, stamps, pens, markers, wax seals, stickers, basically every piece of stationary under the sun, and I send letters to the people I love and miss.
When the COVID-19 quarantine began in March, I started spending my days alone at home writing letters to my cousin who lives 3 hours away, becoming pen pals of sorts. We would talk about our anxieties regarding the pandemic and what we were doing to cope with our new lifestyles; we were there for each other and encouraged one another. Whenever I checked my mailbox and spotted a long, cream-coloured envelope with my name on it, my heart lit up.
Every time I read one of my cousin’s letters, her words of encouragement always seemed to come at a time when I needed it most. She lifted me up when I felt most alone. I believe the weight of her words had so much to do with the timing, as this aspect of sending & receiving mail carries so much mystery, don’t you think? Anyone can plan a virtual hang-out, text, or call, but real mail is an act of letting go; you pour your hopes & fears onto a piece of paper and you send it out into the world. These letters go across cities, provinces, even countries, and you have no clue when it will reach its destination. Yet, you know that somehow, it will get where it’s supposed to be.
At this point, you might be wondering: what do I write? What does one talk about in a letter? Although it may feel awkward at first, almost as if you were talking to yourself, try to imagine the person you’re writing to is sitting across from you, and write down what you would say to them in that moment. Be honest and remember that it’s okay not to be okay and to reach out to your circle for support. Ask questions – ask how their jobs/school/relationships are going – or write a simple “I love you” or “I’m thinking of you”. Many people never realize the impact that simple phrases like this can have on someone.
With regard to supplies, I get my stationary from a variety of shops. You can find beautiful cards, paper and envelopes from Amazon, Indigo, Michael’s, or even your local dollar store. I buy my stamps from the Canada Post Office at Shoppers Drug Mart, where they have a selection of Permanent Stamps (‘permanent’ means that its value will always equal the current postage rate, so you never have to worry about having enough postage on your mail) with fun themes such as the Group of Seven, Popsicles & Ice Cream, or classic Canadian landscapes.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can even purchase unused vintage Canada Post stamps from craft shops like Etsy to add a unique touch to your mail! Old Canadian stamps have their value written directly on them. You know you’ve put enough stamps on your envelope when the sum of your stamps equals the current postage rate (if you’re living and sending letters within Canada, you can find current postage rates here).
I recently got a wax seal kit in attempt to make my mail look like Hogwarts acceptance letters. You can find a selection of different wax seal designs and colours on Amazon for fair prices. I feel like I’ve gone back 100 years when I seal my envelopes this way.
There are so many ways to make handwritten letters a relaxing experience. If all of these bells and whistles aren’t your thing, that’s okay too. I love receiving my father’s letters written in nearly illegible writing on plain lined paper – it’s the words that make it special.
I hope that after reading this, you will be inspired to write some letters and send some snail mail. Give yourself a break from your phone; check in on yourself and others through this timeless mode of communication. Happy writing!