Do you still send snail mail? June 13 is Snail Mail Day so I thought I would see if there’s anyone else out there who still favours this old custom? I don’t have as much time to write letters as I used to before I had a family, but I do like to put pen to paper and compose an old-fashioned letter from time to time, and I’m happy to say that both of my children also enjoy sending and receiving letters through the post.
Why do we like to send snail mail?
There are a plethora of reasons to send snail mail in these times of technology, and here are just a few of them. Please add your own reasons in the comments below and let us know that we’re not the only ones still sending out postcards, letters, and cultural exchanges!
Call me a dinosaur, but I’m still very much old-fashioned. I love carrying on the age-old tradition of letter-writing. Traditions are still a part of the world society and I like to be a part of it.
I love the anticipation of waiting to receive a letter in the mail. It’s wonderful to know that one is on its way to you – but you don’t know exactly when it will arrive…
For the children (as well as me), composing a letter is great for handwriting practice. This has always been the case, but it’s even more important with so much being done on keyboards these days. If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it! Beautiful penmanship is a fine art.
Not everyone is on Facebook, or even on the internet. Snail mail is how I keep up with family friends and we learn about what our families have been up to, and how everyone is doing. Even if it’s only once a year at Christmas, it’s nice to receive news from around the world.
Letter writing is also a way to help keep people around the world employed. There have been so many lay-offs over the past decade due to new technology and cost reductions, I like to feel that I’m playing my own small part in keeping postal workers in a job.
Since having children I’ve participated in several cultural exchanges with people around the world. We exchange little items to help each other learn more about our cultures. These are always so fun as you never know what will be in a package that you receive! We’ve shared our package we received From Belarus With Love, and I’ll be sharing more with you in the future as well.
Writing a physical letter is more personal than sending a few lines over the internet. It’s much more emotional. You can share thoughts and feelings with not only your words, but also the though the handwriting. Is it tidy or unusually messy and stressed? Is it full of energy or more shaky and weak? Think about the difference in watching a movie or reading a book. Which draws you into their world more deeply?
I really do miss writing letters as frequently as I used to do. But I am making a renewed effort to get back into the habit and make someone else feel special when they receive a hand-written note from me, and perhaps a small card, photo, or drawing.
When was the last time you sent a note through the mail?
