Postcards

Receiving postcards seems very rare these days. I can’t remember the last time I received one, which is a shame because in today’s increasingly digitised world, there’s something truly joyful about receiving something handwritten. It feels special and different.

So, why are postcards so special?

Firstly, it’s the effort required in the process. It takes time and creativity to select a postcard that you think the recipient will appreciate. You have to find it, purchase it, and bring it home. Next, you spend some time figuring out what you want to write on it. Then, you carefully choose a pen and decide on the color of the ink to us (blue, black, or something else?).And once you start writing, there’s no option to press delete. Thirdly, you need to buy a stamp, lick it, imprinting a small piece of own DNA on the postcard, and then send it off in the postbox.

All of this means that the person receiving the postcard must feel truly singled out. It must imply a special connection between the sender and the recipient.

However, this feeling of specialness is not limited to postcards alone. Receiving something in the mail with your own writing automatically provides that sense of significance. A well-thought-out, handwritten thank-you note on nice stationery, maybe with a book or a bottle of wine, can equally convey a very special sentiment.

Post has been inspired by Ludwig Sobolewski’s post on this very topic.