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When I travel, I try to send postcards home whenever I can. Of course I know email is faster and texting is instant, but there is something to be said about sending a postcard to a friend or loved one. It suggests a bit of vintage charm and old school thoughtfulness that are often forgotten, and definitely muted by the high-tech messaging of today.
Granted, postcards seem to take even longer to get to their recipients than regular mail while they also lack the writing space to capture all of the wonderful aspects of your journey. But these minor caveats add to the beauty of postcard correspondence and here’s why:
Faster isn’t always better – Because we are so used to receiving instant communication these days, receiving a postcard a few days or even a week after a friend leaves for holiday is a lovely surprise that will certainly bring an unexpected smile to anyone’s face.
Power of the pen – There is something very real, very genuine, and very deliberate about sending a postcard for the simple fact that you must actually write what you want to say to the sender. This usually means you are extra thoughtful at what you plan to write, before you write it, making every word count. Also, with such limited space, you can give a few highlights and offer to share all of the lovely details with the recipient when you return.
Memories of me – When I first started traveling overseas, I read somewhere that sending postcards to your friends, family, or even yourself, was a good way to remind yourself of all of the fantastic adventures you had on your trip. To this day, I still have several postcards that I sent to myself and my parents from my first trip to the Great Britain. And each time I read them, I can’t help but smile.
If you’re looking to be inspired by the lost art of postcarding, check out the latest issue of Matchbook Magazine, where you’ll find items inspired by receiving a letter (or postcard!) from afar.
By the way, I also love receiving postcards – thank you Susan!
Ciao!
I love postcards! I always buy some whenever I travel to keep for myself and also to send to people. It’s a fun tradition to have and people really do enjoy receiving them.