Postcards

Summer is the perfect time to write postcards. You can say a lot in a small space, and who doesn’t love finding a perky postcard tucked in an otherwise mundane pile of mail?

Here are some ideas about writing postcards.

Think about what you want to say before you write. Space will run out quickly.

Don’t try to describe your whole vacation. Pick one experience that you can capture in a line or two. It will have more impact that trying to cram your whole vacation onto a 4×6 card.

Polish your penmanship. True postcards must be handwritten. I’ve learned that a good match between the pen and the surface of the postcard improves handwriting. Experiment.

Be proactive. On vacation, it seems like there’s plenty of time to write postcards, yet no time at all. Dash off a few postcards while you’re sipping lemonade.

Stick with the facts. If you really mean “Wish you were here!”, by all means say it. Otherwise, find another way to express your enthusiasm.

Send postcards from home. Keep a stash from prior vacations, museum visits, or your hometown. Lean into the novelty by, for example, sending a beach postcard during a blizzard.

Send postcards to kids. Most mail is for grown-ups. Postcards are a fun way of telling a young person that she or he is special to you.

Be creative. Use colors, doodle, draw a picture, write a poem, or just leave ample white space to make a point: “This vacation is AWESOME!!!” To me, this sentiment expresses joy, relaxation, contentment, and an experience worth the cost – in four words!

Hidden benefits

• Writing postcards is a wonderful way to sharpen your writing skills. We have to be brief, so we have to decide what’s most important.
• For a short document, postcards go a long way. I appreciate people who take the time to send me a postcard when they’re on vacation.
• Postcards foster connections. Surprise someone you’re out of touch with, with a quick hello from Bali, New York, or the inside of your tent.
• Postcards help sustain memories. Buy some for yourself and keep them in a special place. Then find them months or even years later as treasured mementos when you come upon them unexpectedly.

Postcards are a quick but nevertheless meaningful way to communicate with the people we care about. Whether or not you take a summer vacation, take a summer coffee break and send a postcard. It will brighten someone’s day.