Staying connected nowadays can be a little more challenging than it used to be. Even though there are so many social media platforms, video calling systems and technology readily available, a lot of these platforms miss an essential part of communication with others- the personal connection. Throughout the pandemic, I have found that pen palling has been a really great outlet to receive this personal connection from others in a safe socially distant way. Writing letters and sending Hallmark cards to my pen pal has helped me throughout the pandemic in five amazing ways:
- Receiving a Letter is So Much More Exciting Than Getting a Call or Text
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When everything seemingly shut down all at once in March, I found myself feeling extremely disconnected and out of the loop with friends and family that lived far away. Writing and receiving letters from my pen pals made a huge difference in my overall mental wellbeing. Physically sitting down and writing made me better connected with my own feelings and helped me become better at articulating that to others.
- Writing Cards Gets You More in Touch With Your Creative Side
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Not only is pen palling an awesome way to stay more in touch with your emotions, but with every card you write, you are able to make it as unique as you want. I definitely may have taken advantage of the newfound free time that staying at home gave me. Needless to say, colorful pens were bought and too many drawings were drawn. But did I have fun? Definitely. Were the pictures any good? Well…. that’s another story.
- An Amazing Way to Stay Connected Safely
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With the “new normal” of social distancing, writing cards made it easier to stay safely connected with those I love. No matter how far someone is, knowing that they will receive a little part of me in the mail still makes me feel like I am not only sustaining, but actively growing my relationships.
- The Anticipation is Thrilling
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Life is all about the little things right? I fully agree and live by this statement. Example: tracking possible card shipment statuses and counting down the days until I would receive it. I swear this pen palling business is exhilarating. Receiving a Hallmark card in the mail is like a mini Christmas morning!
- The Best Excuse to Collect All the Essentials Needed for Pen Palling With Hallmark
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I love getting prepared to write a cute card for my pen pal. What’s the best way to get all of the essentials you may ask? By shopping at Hallmark of course. They seriously make the most incredible quality cards for any occasion (“Thinking of You” and “Friendship” are my favorite themes). Not only do they have the largest array of occasions to celebrate, but you can order any pens, journals, calendar (to count down the days your card arrives), as well as gifts, pillows, blankets and all of the other gift essentials for the holidays coming up. Hallmark has definitely made my pen palling so much easier and more fun to do!
I hope maybe, just maybe, I’ve inspired you to get into pen palling! Everyone could use an excuse for more social interaction these days, and what better way to be safe about it than writing letters. If you do give it a try, make sure to let Hallmark help make it easier!