For the Love of Snail Mail

Do you remember the days of receiving and sending letters in the post? Not bills or bank statements, but real letters? Letters that has been sent from someone who took the time to sit down and put pen to paper and wrote down their news, their thoughts and inquired about you?

My collection of stationery somehow continues to grow.

I remember those days of snail mail with great affection, I used to love the sound of the postman arriving each morning. Back in the 80’s and 90s in regional Australia, the postman drove a distinct “Postie” motor bike. It had a sound like no other bike. Even when I was little I remember getting excited when the postman came. It was like a mini adventure, going out to collect the mail. Carefully checking for spiders first, and then with the help from mum working out who the letter was for. (Spoiler alert it was usually for mum, as she was the adult). Now looking back with my Early Childhood teacher lens, gosh I was developing great pre-writing and reading skills back then (sorry, I guess you can never take the teacher out of the woman apparently)

As a young child I remember setting up a makeshift desk on the dining room table and spreading out all of my stationery. I’d spend ages drawing and ‘writing’ letters to my family and placing it in the mailbox. It gave me a thrill to think of my family receiving such a surprise when they saw that I had written them a letter.

I adore writing letters.

In the late 80s, when I was in year 7 at High School I started to write a letter to a friend that I met at the local pool. (As we did not live in a coastal/holiday area, I guess she was visiting family?) She had suggested that we become pen pals. It was such a great experience. I adored writing to her, telling her about my life (obviously it was not a very long letter) And I found it was just as wonderful to receive letters from her. I loved learning about her life and her home. I guess that is when I became aware of my fascination with people and their life story.

But being someone who tends to fall deeply into the things I love,

I wanted more letters, more pen pals. Please remember this is a long time before there was such a thing called the internet. On our TV we only had two television stations. Believe me, I had loads of time on my hands. So I wrote away to an American Magazine, I think it was called Teen Beat, as they had a section for people wanting to find pen pals. (yes they listed your address in the magazine). In my little introduction I said I was from Australia and that I would reply to all letters. Thank goodness the editors took that sentence out when the magazine was published.

After a few months (remember, everything took longer then) I started to receive letters. So many letters from teenagers all over the World! It was incredible! The postie even stopped and asked if I had suddenly become famous as he was delivering that many letters to me.

Oh how I poured over every single letter. It amazed me how every different country had different styles of writing and addressing their envelopes (Yes, I am that nerd) and the life other teenagers were living. After a long day at school (I really struggled in all aspects of schooling) to come home, and read these letters was just the balm I needed. It was such an escape. A lot like reading books, but with real people.

I didn't realise that decorating stationery was actually creative

And you bet I wrote back to every single letter. It gave me the opportunity to use my stash of stationery. I would spread everything out on my desk, and be lost in my writing, replying to everyone. Although I was answering and writing back to all of the people, I left it to mum to post the letters when she went ‘down the street’.

However one day I opened the car glove box, many of these letters that I thought had been posted came tumbling out. I was horrified. But mum rightly put me in my place, explaining that she sent a few of the letters, but simply couldn’t afford do send all the letters. I understood, international stamps at the time cost $1.50 (roughly,how much it costs a stamp in Australia today). And quite frankly, we were poor.

The letters that did get sent soon resulted in my having some wonderful pen pals that I wrote to throughout High School. The letters were a brilliant way to connect with other teenagers. Learning about life outside of my world. And I loved writing about what was happening in my life, to people that asked and was interested. Even back then my spoken words were often wrong, jumbled as I tried to process the words and express myself. Writing gave me the opportunity to slow down, and I could express myself so much clearly with pen and paper than what I ever could in person. Now I realise that my letter writing was also a source of journalling. It gave me away to process what was happening in those often horrid high school years of my life.

I continued writing to my pen pals until I started working part time at Woolworths and began ‘studying’ for the HSC. My life became more busy and I also remember that we received two more TV channels and a video player! But do you know, I kept every single one of those letters that I received. It was only about ten years ago that mum asked me to come and ‘please do something’ with the big crate of letters that was taking up room in her cupboard. Reading though those letters was quite emotional. Bringing back all those emotions and memories of life back then. It also reignited my love of writing again. Because ten years ago my life was chaotic. I had forgotten how good it was to write. The only thing I was writing was a list of ‘things’ that had to be done and teacher reports.

I still love being surrounded by my stationery

Now, my life is not chaotic, I have started to write letters once again. And I love it. I enjoy gathering all of my stationery that I have collected over the years and spread it all out on my desk and I write the letters. I love decorating the paper with stickers and doodles. I love decorating the envelopes. I have realised that this in itself is an important part of my creative expression.

I am not just ‘wasting’ time. I am playing with paper (see this post about the Importance of Play during Pre + Menopausal Seasons)

I am creating, I’m in a flow, and it’s a beautiful place to be.

I still love receiving letters. Although the postie now rides an electric bike with no sound, it still gives me a thrill to see a letter in the mailbox. Sitting there inviting me to open it, like a delicious gift. I love reading what my pen pals have to tell me. Knowing how they have taken time out of their busy life to create the letter, its is like sharing a beautiful creative moment.

Letters from the Bay • Snail Mail Circle •

So now I'm beginning to dream about Letters from the Bay • A Snail Mail Circle ~ a gentle way to bring back the joy of real letters, paper, stories and slow connections.

For now, I'm starting with a simple expression of interest list, If you'd like to hear more, or become part of the first snail mail group, you can add your name below.

Join Letters from the Bay

{This is just an interest list for now. I'll email you first before collecting postal addresses or sending anything in the mail.}

If you have any questions or want to share your snail mail experiences, you can reply to this blog post or email me directly.

Make sure you do something just for yourself today, Melissa