Let's Take The U.S. Postal Service By Storm

I used to loathe the very idea of social networking websites. I thought they were a shallow, stupid way to avoid real friendships while still feeling “popular.” That was before I got a Facebook account, of course. “I'll never be on Facebook!” I used to rant to the amusement of my friends, who had already been lured away by the siren song of social networking. “There are better ways to maintain long distance friendships! I'll rebel! I'll – I'll write letters!” And for a while I did. That very day I sat down at my desk, pen and stationary in hand, and composed several epistles. It was fun. I felt like a character in a Jane Austen novel. To my great delight, a few people even wrote back once or twice. Okay, two people. One of whom was my grandma. But still. A letter is a letter, right?

Several months later, I broke down and made a Facebook account anyway. Well... so much for revolutionizing the world with letter-writing. I, um, sort of tried. The problem with letters is that most people don't have the time to write back, or even to write in the first place. (At least, that's what everyone says. My personal theory is that all our potential letter-writing time gets sucked away by... other sources. *cough, Facebook, cough*) So the sad fact about letters in today's world is that everyone loves getting them and almost nobody has the motivation to write them, except for those rare souls like my grandma.

Happy news: I'm blessed to have a handful of those rare souls as friends. In fact, they're the reason I'm typing away here, simultaneously lamenting the lack of letters in our world and rejoicing in the fact that... (drumroll, please) I GOT MAIL TODAY! Huzzah! Nothing makes my heart sing like a letter with my name on the envelope. This morning when I woke up, I found not one but TWO letters pushed under my bedroom door. My heart could have sung an entire opera.

Now, don't take this the wrong way: I'm not saying we should all delete our Facebook accounts (or blogs), throw our laptops into the nearest dumpster, and start buying stationary in bulk. Modern conveniences like email and social networking sites can be incredibly useful. Relying on mail delivery for everything would be a royal pain. I like the fact that I don't have to plan three days in advance every time I need to contact my boss or want to plan a get-together with a friend. However... there's just something sad about opening your mailbox every morning only to find bills and junk mail. A well-crafted, lovingly doodled-on letter is a beautiful thing. To all my letter-writing friends (and you know who you are): thank you! You are quite inspiring. I'm thrilled that I'm not the only one still licking envelopes and buying stamps.

So, I've decided to try something this year because I like goals, and I like challenges. Here it is: The Letter-A-Week Challenge. Fairly self-explanatory. Pick one person each week, and write them a good old-fashioned letter. Who's with me? Seriously, you should do it. Make someone's heart sing an opera.

As for me, I'm off to be Jane-Austenish and write a letter or two.