How to Find a Pen Pal

Image Source

Writing handwritten letters is a lovely experience. It's an excuse to use fantastic stationary, wax seals, and any other wonderful things that don't have any other practical use (ahem, glitter stickers). Plus, slowed down communication can be much more meaningful than instant Facebook updates. But finding pen pals can be difficult if you don't know where to look. The best pen pals are often not strangers, but people you didn't know loved letters too. I keep quite a few letter writing buddies, so here's my take on how to find them:

Check out your family tree

One of my most exciting pen pals is from Ireland. I found her by talking to my grandparents about which parts of the family emigrated to the United States and which stayed in Ireland. So if your family has immigrated in the past two or three generations, it's very possible that someone older than you knows a relative that lives in a different country. It's pretty exciting, and letters make good mementos of the relationship you created with someone you otherwise would not have met.

Call your grandmother

Or your great-aunt. Or anybody who is a bit older than you who you wish you managed to call more often. I find that a lot of older family members of mine are really grateful when you keep in contact, and letters are great because I know a lot of people really are nostalgic for that kind of communication, and it allows more in depth conversation. Letter writing can be done at a time that is convenient for both parties, so there is no time related stress.

Remember sleep away camp?

Any experience you had as a child that was a bit of a one off (sleep away camp, religious conferences, etc) probably involved some friends you made and didn't keep in touch with. If you can manage to find their address, send them a letter! They would probably love to hear from you. It's a great way to expand your circle of active friends and a bit of fun for both parties.

Sometimes, pen pals (or any sort of pal) are already friends or family, you just didn't know they were there.

Want to comment, collaborate or connect? Find me elsewhere:
Twitter || Pinterest

Saying Thank You (Non-Mushy Edition!)

Image Source

I have decided one of the most important skills I have (somewhat) mastered in my short time here on Earth is the expression of gratitude in a non-mushy non-embarrassing-to-either-party way. The reason I got pretty good at it is I've been trying to express gratitude for everything, ever, for a while now. And it took me a long time to realize why most people recoil when you get all serious and emotional and whatever. It's because we are a bunch of embarrassed fools.

There's nothing I can do about that. So I learned to work with it. Now I can express my grateful feelings without making the party I wanted to thank feel uncomfortable. Win-win! Making the person who we are thanking feel awkward is doing the opposite of what we intended, so let's focus on making them feel great!

Say it casual.

Seriously. Say it casually. Even if you are saying something really meaningful. Say it like you would say, "Wow, the weather is pleasantly warm." Excited, genuine, but not like you are going to tear up.

K.I.S.S.

Nope, not "kiss!" That's not casual. It stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid." Really, you can keep it simple. A good example is "Thank you for saving my dog from that angry cat." Just express what you are trying to say. No need to try to outdo Shakespeare. Short and to the point!

Smile like you mean it.

Seriously. Body language is more than half of how we communicate. Give them the appropriate smile for your situation, and you should be golden. You can give them a hug if it seems appropriate. When in doubt, leave it out.

I hope this helps you guys express your gratitude without being super mushy or uncomfortable. If you have some thank yous that have been piling up, better late then never. Just give them a call! Tell them that you were just thinking about that nice thing they did, and you wanted to say thanks. People who express gratitude regularly lead longer, happier lives, so go for it!

Find me elsewhere on the internet:
Twitter || Pinterest