Journaling and Creating Postal Missives

Before getting involved with A Month of Letters, I was working in a couple of journals, experimenting and playing with ideas.  

Now, my efforts are directed toward keeping up with getting a letter or postcard a day in the mail and trying to have something specific relating to the person I'm writing.  I've actually managed 2 items a day so far this week, but that might set me back later when I run out of names on my list.  

At first, I thought that actually writing the letters might be the hard part. You know, trying to think of something to say.  The letters aren't long, however, and postcards don't have much room. 

I've also found that the writing part a pleasure. Unlike a phone call, there is no awkwardness about being in the middle of something when the phone rings or about saying goodbye.  There is no hurry to type out an email and send it.  I can begin, and pause, take a break and sip my tea, and then come back to the message--even with the limited space on a postcard, I can pause.  

As a result, the process is rather relaxing and enjoyable.  It provides a certain mental connection that is slower in its construction, less immediate than text, email, or phone calls, and I'm finding this an unexpected pleasure--this feeling of having plenty of time to frame a response.

Although A Month of Letters is simply a celebration of correspondence through the mail, I've combined it with Mail Art (and "art" is a relative term) because it is fun to create a postcard or a decorated envelope.  The idea behind AML and MA is pretty much the same:  the work is freely given without any requirements of receiving something in return and there are no judgements about the quality.  

For introverts, correspondence is perfect.  To quote Lord Byron:  "Letter writing is the only device combining solitude with good company."  Writing to someone you like is certainly keeping good company.

Still don't know if I will manage to complete the month; I  prefer my previous method of sending one or two letters a week on one day.  Last summer, I put Wednesday as "Letter Day" on my Google calendar and have receive weekly reminders that are often ignored.  Since I've been writing more in the last couple of months, even I don't write on Wednesday, the notifications keep the idea in my mind.

  

Today is National Mail Carrier Appreciation Day.  My postcard will  be is in the mailbox!  

One day at a time, letter after letter after....