I hear it all the time. People talking about how snail mail is a thing of the past. How they don’t send letters anymore. How they don’t even check their mail because they pay all of their bills online and don’t receive anything worth looking at in their mailbox.
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When is the last time you sat down and wrote someone a letter? The last time you were excited to go to your mailbox and see what was waiting inside {and no, not because a package from amazon was waiting for you}. The last time you took a moment to connect with someone through the written word?
Today we rely on instant connection. A text message here, a check in on social media, a tweet, a like, a comment, maybe even an email. It is quick and fleeting. I love that we have the ability to connect with one another instantly. It is like a little piece of magic in the palm of your hands.
But what if you slowed down for a moment. Took some time to write a note to a friend on a blank piece of paper. Then dropped that note into the mailbox and gave it some more time to reach them. How do you think your friend would feel when they opened up their mailbox and saw a very special surprise just from you.
A few years ago I created the Love Notes Postcard Project. A simple three week project centered around connecting with individuals through snail mail. In this digital age I had no idea if people would be interested, but it was something I was craving and so I knew I had to put it out into the world.
What emerged from this small idea was an incredible community of individuals connecting through the written word sent through the mail.
Strangers writing to one another.
Strangers opening up their heart and sharing a piece of their world with each other.
Strangers connecting.
Strangers reaching out to others who needed a little extra TLC.
Strangers no longer strangers, but friends.
It is the power of the written word that has brought these individuals together. Their hearts are as wide as the ocean. Their courage to take a chance is immense. There desire to lift others up with no expectation of anything in return is incredible. They are a community of Love Notes senders. It was the lure of the written word that brought them together, but it was their willingness to open up and connect that has made them friends.
I never in my wildest dreams imagined such a divine and loving community forming out of the Love Notes Project. Each time I visit the facebook group my heart overflows with gratitude and love. It is these individuals who make the project possible and it is their divine kindness that forms deep meaningful connections.
The project is simple.
Individuals from around the world have participated including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, France, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and more. There have been places I had to look up because I wasn't even sure where they were on the map.
In a world filled with uncertainty this project reinforces that there is still good in the world. There are kind and loving individuals reaching out a hand. We stand together, sharing our hearts, sharing our stories, sharing hope.
What may be simple words to you could be the exact words someone else needs to hear. What you write could change someones day or bring a smile to their face. Your postcard is a little piece of fairy magic. You may never know the effect is has on others along it's journey and when it arrives at it's final destination, but that is part of the wonder.
I am excited for the very next round of Love Notes starting on Sunday, January 14th. There is still time for you to join us if you are interested. There is no requirement to be creative or an exceptional writer. The prompts are simple and the writing space on a postcard is short and sweet. Store bought postcards work perfectly. And if you don't have a postcard a note card works as well. In fact any piece of paper you can drop in the mail is perfect.
I invite you to come back to the basics and join us for three weeks of snail mail fun.
It's back! Another round of Love Notes begins July 10th and I can't wait to start. Love Notes is a fun, easy, and free three week project that involves sending one postcard a week to a complete stranger. Yes, you heard that right, sending a bit of snail mail to someone you may not know. When is the last time you received a handwritten note in the mail just for you? My mailbox tends to be filled with bills and mailers, nothing that excites me, but Love Notes changes all of that.
Love Notes was born out of this desire to connect with people, to have individuals share handwritten words, and to have a project that was easy and attainable for anyone. There is no artistic ability needed to participate in this project. Postcards can be bought or made. What matters most is taking the time to send a bit of handwritten love. Words have the power to heal and transform individuals.
In the last round which took place in April we had 300 individuals writing! In that round I hit a milestone mark having at least one person from every state in the USA participate. It was incredible. I hope to be able to do that again. But this project isn't just limited to individuals in the US, nope it's global! I have seen participants from Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
New this round is the opportunity for children to participate. I have been getting a lot of questions about how children can get involved and have figured out a way to make it happen. If you know a child that is interested please click the check box in the sign up form and I will be contacting you to work through the details.
When I first started this project I had no idea that it would unfold into such a beautiful community of loving, kind, and supportive individuals. My heart opens up more and more during each round as I see the outpouring of kindness for one another. Yes it's true, one postcard can change a persons day. Check out the Love Notes Facebook Group to see a bit of what I am talking about.
The next round of the Love Notes Postcard Project (#lovenotesjb) begins on Sunday. If you missed it do not worry as I will be hosting it again in July and October. I love this project for it's simplicity.
When I first began this project I had no idea that it would reach people from all over the world. For this next round we reached a major milestone
I am so excited about this. It is incredible to know that so much love is being sent out. But the love doesn’t stop within the US. We also have people participating from:
It is incredible to me how a note arriving in the mail can change a person’s day for the better, bring happiness, and be the spark to a new friendship. This is what Love Notes has done and each day I am amazed with its ability to bring people together. Some say snail mail is a thing of the past but to that I say no way! Love Notes ignites sparks of joy and kindness and spreads them throughout the world.
I love that individuals are reaching each other through snail mail but I wish there was a way for me to wave a magic wand and have everyone who is participating together in one place. It would be so lovely to see be gathered around one very large table chatting about our lives, sharing our dreams, and gushing over our mutual passion for snail mail. Since that is not physically possible I invite you to join me on our virtual dock where you can stop by people's digital front porches and say hello. Get a peek into their world and see where they are writing from. Go ahead, stop by and say hello.
In the social world of facebook, instagram, and twitter we forget that people are sharing more of their hearts on their blogs. But they are still out there {me included}, and I know they would enjoy it if you popped over for a visit.
In keeping up with the digital world Love Notes is also social. You can find it:
To me mailboxes feel like magical portholes. They open up opportunity to connect with individuals through handwritten words or surprise packages. They are a mystery box of communication.
I love how handwritten words are filled with intention. When you take the time to write someone a note you are encouraged to slow down and really think about what you want to say. When you drop it in the mailbox you are unsure of when it will arrive to them, but you know that when it does it will be an incredible surprise. This is all part of the magic.
Unfortunately I feel that less and less people are pulling out postage stamps, addressing letters, and dropping them in the mail. This makes my heart sad and one of the reasons I started the Love Notes Postcard Project. I wanted to bring back the magic and encourage more people to send snail mail.
This FREE project only requires:
Here's how it works:
This will be the 15th time I have hosted this project and people from all the Unites States and the world have participated. I believe so strongly in connecting through handwritten words that my goal for this round is to get one person from each state in the US sending and receiving some love. Wouldn't that be so fun!
I need your help. In order to get someone from each state I need your help spreading the word. Please share with your friends and let them know that their mailbox doesn't have to just be filled with coupons and bills ... they can also receive little rays of sunshine. And if you know someone in Alaska and Hawaii {I feel these are going to be two really hard states} let them know about this project.
As individuals sign up I am going to color in the state they are from. Hopefully I can fill up the entire map of the US. This does not mean that international sign up's aren't welcome. Of course this project is also international. I just thought this would be a fun goal to try to reach.
Along with sushine in your mailbox there is also an incredible group that has gathered over in the Love Notes Postcard Facebook Page Pop on over and say hello. Also check out some of the postcards sent in previous rounds on Instagram #lovenotesj
The Love Notes Postcard project is back for it's first installment for 2016 and I cannot wait to begin. We start on January 10th! Are you ready to say yes, click HERE to sign up. Not sure, read below for more information.
Is your mailbox feeling lonely?
Have you only been receiving bills and mailers?
Do you long for a little handwritten bit of sunshine to surprise you?
This FREE project only requires:
Here's how it works:
Pop on over to the Love Notes Postcard Facebook Page to say hello and check out below for some of the postcards sent in previous rounds on Instagram #lovenotesjb
open your heart & share your story
Hello I'm Jennifer! A writer, podcaster and heart-centered guide. I believe in the power of the written word and am here to guide you in opening your heart.
