Day 18: Writing a Letter – 60 People YOU Can Thank or Encourage

What: Writing a letter.

Why: Getting the mail is something that I always look forward to – there is something about getting a letter in the mail that makes me pick up my pace on my walk back to the house.

I know we are talking about how to live with less and you are probably thinking that writing a letter takes MORE time, when what we are trying to accomplish is saving time and resources to make room for more in life.

Well, I consider writing a letter as a way to make room for more in life. I suppose there is a reason why we call a letter sent “snail mail” because it takes longer to write vs. emailing and it takes much longer to send it. But is that really how we want to live our life?

What a letter can do:
1. Encourage a hurting friend or family member
2. Offer sympathy
3. Express a part of you and share in the life of someone else
4. Carry on the traditions of the generations who have gone before us
5. Give excitement to the person who opens the mailbox and sees a letter from you
6. A letter may be read over and over again and even kept in a keepsake box.
7. Writing a letter takes time out of your busy day, offers time of reflection, and gives you a chance to a breather.

There is something about sitting down with a fresh piece of paper, pen, and sitting in a quiet space. I have compiled a list of 60 people you could write a letter to – a letter of thanks or thinking of you. Often times we go through life not appreciating the people who help us keep our life going. People from the cashier at the grocery store to a facebook friend who sent you a beautiful message. Why do we not take the time to thank them or offer a letter of encouragement to them? You may think “why would I send a letter to THAT person?” Just remember the excitement you get when you open up your mailbox and receive a letter from someone you did not expect.

How: Writing a letter is much more time consuming and it is a lost art. I would encourage you to take time out of your day or in the days to come, to write a thank you letter to someone you feel would be deeply encouraged by it. Don’t expect getting a letter in return – that is not why you are writing it. Writing a letter is a selfless gift to someone who needs to hear a word of encouragement. You never know what that letter may mean to them.

60 People YOU Can Thank or Encourage: