It is the new year, and as all the festivities from the end of the year wind down many are highly aware of the impending “winter blues.” The cold, the dark, the abundance of germs this time of year, they all lead to many of us staying home and indoors more than normal. Also, this time of year right after Christmas—after weeks of shopping, gathering, feasting, and celebrating—can feel “low” because of the “high” of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. With little to look forward to and the isolation that winter brings, loneliness closes in. I have an idea to help us fight back against the winter blues and it involves stamps, envelopes, and sending cards.
The Connection that Mail Brings
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the mail. I checked it every single day. There was that little bit of hope that there would be something fun to open. Which is funny, because 99% of the time there was nothing for me. Maybe I was craving some kind of connection.
As I got older, I started to send mail. When a friend moved away, I was the one that stayed in touch with letters and cards. Later when I started to make my own money, I would send presents in the mail. Still today, gathering items to send boxes of encouragement to sick or sad family members is one of my favorite things to do.
In college, I even worked at a postal contract station, helping others send packages to their loved ones. But I’ll admit I don’t send as much mail as I used to. Life gets busy with work, spouses, kids, and all the things that come with #adulting. I’m hoping a card challenge will be just what you and I need to remember to send more cards.
Unexpected Joys
I have a favorite word. It’s “serendipity.” When I was young, there was a donut shop by our neighborhood named Serendipity. I don’t remember if the donuts were any good (of course they were), I just remember it being close enough that I could ride my bike there. I won’t bore you with all the ways this word has shown up in my life. Except for one more thing: My favorite movie, the only movie I make sure I watch every year, is Serendipity.
I still remember the definition I learned in third grade, word for word: “the unexpected happening of something good.” I think that’s why receiving cards or gifts in the mail is so fun, it’s unexpected—because normally that’s a spot reserved for bills—and it brings a little joy to your day. To know someone thought about you, and thought about you enough to write it down, put it in an envelope with an actual stamp, and walk it to the mailbox or drive it to the post office, can bring some sunshine to your day.
During these winter months when many suffer with varying forms of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and sadness, sending a card is an easy way to share some serendipity.
Shine Your Light
Those that suffer the winter blues need some light in their lives. I’m not saying receiving one card in the mail will cure their sadness, but some unexpected joy can be just enough to spark a little hope in their day. One card can make someone feel seen, known, and loved—not just by us, but by a good God. Here is The Message version of Matthew 5:14-16:
“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
30 Card Challenge
I challenge you this winter to fight back against winter blues*, whether it’s you or someone else who suffers (*Never hesitate to seek professional help with sadness and depression that you can’t conquer on your own). Send love and light, peace and connection through your own mailbox. Give someone a little serendipity in their day!
I’ve made it easy for you, by creating this printable you can download with 30 card ideas. If 30 cards in one month feels like too much, you can spread it out over the whole winter. That gives you 2.5 months to send 30 cards. If you don’t like a prompt, you don’t have to send that one. These are just ideas to help you get started.
This challenge is not just for you, it’s for me also. You can follow along with me on my Instagram page. Click the button to view the free pdf with 30 prompts!
Extra Resources
Here are some links for my favorite notecards and other card-sending tips!
-My favorite notecards from my friend’s Etsy shop, NicoleEstesStudio. She has so many amazing choices!
-From Hallmark, Sending Cards and Letters: Our Best Advice and Ideas.
-If you need more prompt ideas: 100 Unconventional Reasons to Send a Card
–More Love Letters is a group effort to send more mail! Every month they share requests for letters. They take a break in January, but in February you can find letter requests on their website. Follow their Instagram to stay up to date.
May we all do our parts to fight back against the darkness!
I love this challenge! I believe there is something extra special about receiving handwritten cards in the mail. And what a great way to connect it with overcoming those winter blues. It’s a foggy day here in my town and I can already feel the weight of a gloomy day. Writing a card (just one a day instead of being overwhelmed by 50 at one time) may just help with that! Thanks!
It is so nice to receive a card. And it’s great for the giver too! It’s pretty easy, we just get busy with other things ❤️
I love this idea, Natalie! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you for reading, Erika! I wrote it as a reminder to myself, but so glad it can inspire others too!
My mom (nanny) would love a card she turns 93 on the 13 of January. She is not long for this earth and I would love for her to find joy in someone reaching out to her
That’s a great idea, Lori! Adding her to my list ❤️
Natalie,
What a beautiful post. The Doll Club I belong to believes in card sending amping our members, and it is such a blessing. I myself have a Hallmark card program on the computer, so many times I make my own. Also, I receive cards as a thank you gift from donation to organization.
A few weeks ago, I asked a woman I met a the Senior center, what her hobbies. we’re. She replied, “my only hobby is making and sending cards to others”. Then she added, ” I am not sure that counts as a hobby.”I immediately answered, “wow that’s a fabulous hobby”!
So of course I think your challenge is a great one, and I shall do my best to join in. Love, Aunt Celia
Thank you for sharing! Card making is fun! I’ve made some online and printed them out. Adds a special touch! So glad you read my post ❤️
I happily discovered this post via Tim Challies’ Weekend A La Carte offerings. This idea resonated loud & strong with me since I have a fairly large file of cards just waiting for my bidding to go and encourage someone. I realize you have not specifically addressed writing thank you notes, but I can’t help but think that falls in here somewhere. That is my major pet peeve. I am old enough to remember when people actually wrote notes thank a person for a gift. It seems those days are passe. I can’t count the number of times in recent years when baby gifts, wedding gifts, birthday gifts and Christmas gifts have gone unacknowledged. My adult daughter & I have this discussion yearly usually around Christmas. I think it behooves parents to teach their children the basic common courtesy of thanking someone for a gift. I’m fortunate if I receive a cursory text of “Thanks” for gifts throughout the year. (My grandchildren range from 11-16) so all know how to write. They just don’t. My daughter’s response is that it just isn’t done anymore. I’m not buying that! I realize your post was mainly on encouragement and that sending cards is as good (& maybe more so) for the sender as well as the receiver. So, since I can’t change anyone else, I will do what I can do and perhaps it may encourage one or two others to do the same. You are doing your part with lovely posts such as this!
I agree, thank you cards are rare these days. But I appreciate your spin on it. We can only control ourselves, so we can continue to be card writers even if we’re not receiving any! Honestly, I think that’s part of the reason I haven’t sent as many cards lately is because I wasn’t sure it mattered. But I’ve learned that these little things do matter. Sometimes the little things can be big things when we don’t even realize it. Thank you for reading!
Keep sending cards. We learned recently that a young man we’ve sent birthday cards to for over 20 years has kept every one of them. We had no idea! The little things do matter, whether people acknowledge them or not. Thanks for your article. (I found it via Tim Challies blog.)
Thanks for reading! How awesome he has 20 years of cards he kept! And 20 cards that you sent!
I have 8 grandchildren (ages 1-7) living in El Paso in two households. Recently I bought a few packages of bouncy balloons (the ones with a rubber band on them so you can bounce them ) at the Dollar Tree. I found that I could send one balloon in a regular letter-sized envelope, with the balloon surrounded by a piece of paper on which I wrote a short hello to that child. So each child got his or her own piece of mail with a wonderful balloon, and they loved it! A lot of joy for the price of a few balloons and 8 stamps.
That is such a fun idea! A great way to surprise little ones with something in the mail. Thanks for reading!