goal four: handwritten letters + stay in touch with friends

You probably thought I forgot about this resolution list, didn’t you.

Well you were right because I DID.

And then at lunch today I was like WHAT should I blog about next? At which point this little list came creeping back to me, along with some stress because of so much I still want/need to do.

And I know it’s only March, but still.

Goal #4 is to write more handwritten letters + stay in better touch with friends. I’ve got to preface this with saying that I’m already pretty good at keeping in touch with friends (in my humble opinion), but there’s always room for improvement, and more than anything, I just don’t want to let this aspect of my life slip through the cracks. The friendships I’ve made {and continue to make} are incredibly important to me and so dedicating time to this resolution is worth every second.

I’m doing pretty okay with the handwritten letter part, so I thought I’d take some time to talk about how I’m making it work for me. I wrote some Happy New Year notes in January and sent some Valentine’s postcards when February 14th rolled around. I think that’s the way I’m going to keep making this happen around here. A few cards mailed out to friends once a month should do the trick. It’s totally doable, and makes me feel really good inside. Not to mention EVERYONE and their mother loves getting mail.

{Amiright?!}

To start this little project first I collected addresses using Postable. I found out about this website from my friend Elizabeth, who is also trying her hand at this pen pal gig. It’s a SUPER easy way to get your friends’ addresses AND keep them in one place. The whole “address book” thing never really worked out for me. Mostly I’d forget where I put it, but also I was terrible at keeping up with it. With this, I always know where my friends’ addresses are, I can print mailing labels if I want, and they are easily updatable if someone moves (which happens A LOT these days).

In January and February I sent cards that I purchased at my local Paper Source, but this month, I’ve started to collect more cards from favorite etsy shops. ONE because there are some seriously great handmade shops out there and TWO because, as you know, I recently became a shop owner myself {shameless plug!}.

Here are some favorites I love:

Wit & Whistle

Beyond Wonderland

Sara December Rose

Little Low Studio

Iron Curtain Press

On top of the letters, I’d love to start sending out little gifts here and there, just because. A few friends have recently done this for me and it’s just the NICEST. I already have my first batch of “gifts” heading out this week. Excited to start giving! For this I am aiming to send out local products (chocolates and other goodies), but might look into some etsy shops for that kind of thing as well.

Lastly, I just really want to make a big effort to visit friends this year/or have friends come visit me. I’ve accepted that I’m pretty much the WORST at keeping up with friends via telephone, and email works okay every now and again, but it’s just not the same as face-to-face, let’s-hug-and-dance-like-we’ve-never-left-each-other feeling. You know? I’ve been pretty successful at seeing my Boston friends consistently, which I LOVE, but I’d also love to figure some way out to see my college/high school friends that don’t live close, too. It’s hard, because many of them live pretty far {at least a plane ride away}, and money is tight over here, but hopefully we can work something out, or even try to meet somewhere in the middle. There are always weddings {we have two this summer!}, but still I want MORE.

+

And so, there we have it. Basically, “The Friendship Plan for 2013”. Sounds official and I like it.

Also, now I’m curious. Do you write letters? Make phone calls? Plan weekends? How do you keep in touch with your favorites as the years go by??

{P.S. Are you still on Facebook? I am {sort of}, but I am over it. Big time. I could go on forever about THAT, but another day, another time!}

+

“Write More Letters”
letterpress print by Bison Bookbinding Press
{found at Porter Square Books!}

Comments

  1. I full on appreciated that GIGGIDY Valentine’s Day card. Seriously, nothing makes me happier than opening my mailbox to find something personal for me. I mean, getting my monthly magazines is also great, but man. Getting real mail? Nothing beats that.

  2. Mail is the awesomest, and I love this goal. I sometimes get self-conscious, because writing by hand means no editing {unless you want to cross things out, and I hate messing up the way everything looks like that}, and more often than not my thoughts come out in this ridiculous indulgent mind-dump. But having friends who write me back and tell me they love my letters helps. :) Thanks for the Etsy shop recs! I always love those.

    • Mind dump, definitely. But we all need to do that every once in awhile without crossing out, don’t you think?

      Good for the soul.

  3. I’d love to hear your reasons for quitting Facebook! I’ve been considering ditching it entirely…Thoughts? You have my email :) As you know, I love writing letters + keeping in touch with friends that way – this spring I’m going to do my best to send out a few care packages to really get myself back into it. I’m also really bad at keeping in touch via phone…even texting, it’s just hard for me to stay focused and communicate that way. FaceTime + Skype help me keep in touch with my sisters, but face to face always wins in my book. Excited to go check out those shops you mentioned! xo, E

    • A post has been spinning in my mind for MONTHS, but I don’t even know of it’s worth writing about. I get all heated for no good reason.

      I’ll email you, though! We can talk it out!

      AND! I have not one but TWO pieces of mail I’ve been meaning to send you– just not sure about the address since all of your moves! I need to email about that as well. (Clearly, email is not my strong point.)

      • That’s so sweet of you! Sometimes I have old letters sitting around that I never sent, and then I wonder if I should even send them at all. I’ve been trying to get better at a) just sending them on time and b) sending them if even if they’re old news. It’s more fun that way, right? Looking forward to your email :)

        • Yes, I definitely have some REALLY old Christmas cards I never sent out… we’re talking YEARS old. How funny would it be if I sent them now. I might have to do it, just because.

  4. I love this! I’ve been collecting addresses (mostly for NYE) in my google contacts for years – which works, until I forget to update it. I’ll have to check out Postable…

    And facebook, over it. I hardly ever look, but I don’t have the heart to sever contacts/disappoint my still-fb-smitten mother.

    • Yes! Do postable! Easy as pie!

      I go through my Facebook feed less than once a week and each and every time I’m just shaking my head. That place is bonkers.

      I think I need to write a post about this.

  5. I made this a goal for 2013 as well and I’m loooving it. I get so excited for mail! I like to add little treats to mine. Starbucks now sells a set of five little $5 gift cards which are perfect for that.

  6. I love this goal! I always have a wish on the backburner to increase my letter writing, but email is so much easier, not to mention instantly gratifying. I also keep in touch with my friends through so many ways- text, call, heytell, facebook chat, blog comments, skype, etc- that handwritten gets lost in the shuffle. You’ve motivated me to get going, though! Great post :)

    • And you are motivating me to hop on the instant communication train more often! I am good with twitter and instagram, but that about it. Phone = the worst. But even email and texting I struggle with.

      And yes, definitely give letter writing a try. It’s super satisfying, I promise.

  7. i love sending cards from etsy – there are so many great shops. i sent cards last year on the regular to brian, but don’t now that he moved to nyc (woo!) i looooved getting your postcard, although i usually only send cards out for birthdays or thank yous. i have one friend who i send cards back and forth with – we try to pick really funny ones, and i love that. i’m also fairly good at talking on the phone, but finding time for it can be a struggle. weddings have helped a lot, but since they’re dying down i need to focus more on other ways, like you.

    • I remember you saying you used to send Brian cards (and that you got a lot of them from Etsy). I love that but love even more that you are close enough to each other now that you don’t need to do that anymore!

  8. Thanks for including my card in the mix! Sending mail is the best!

  9. LOVE your friendship plan. My constant goal is to send more letters, which I have done really, really well up until the last 9 months or so. Birthday cards are still happening, but I’d like to do more random hellos. I am terrible at keeping in touch on the phone, but I think a note here and there really helps maintain ties. I also love doing random gifts, and I would love to be able to do it more! And facebook? bleh I still have it but rarely use it. I mostly use it to see people’s pictures that aren’t on instagram (what’s up with that, anyway?!).

    • Glad to know you’re bad at the phone, too. I just don’t know, it seems like too much… work? Bad to say, but it does.

      Also, I’ve never really been a phone person, even in high school, so I guess it makes sense that I’m not really one now.

  10. handwritten letters are a must in this day and age! great goal!

    grace
    http://herumbrella.com

    • I think it’s important to try to keep some of the old traditions alive.. and I’m happy to support this one!

  11. Love your dedication. I’m terrible at keeping up with phone calls so this would be a great alternative. I think my main road block is not having cards on hand, so I should build up a stockpile. Thanks for the great options!

  12. Love this. One of my 12 Months of Giving goals is to send out handwritten notes. Thanks for the Etsy suggestions too!

Leave a Comment

*