Writealetter.org

Let's start writing letters again!

  • Home
  • About
  • Go The Write Way
  • Posts
  • Resources
  • Contact

Universal Letter Writing Week 2021

January 10, 2021 By Carol

Looking forward, looking back -that’s Janus. January is named after Janus, the Roman god with two faces, each looking in the opposite direction. He heralds new beginnings. What a perfect symbol for a new year and some fresh starts.

We’ve done plenty of looking back.  So, what’s ahead? How are those resolutions going?

Laurie Santos, founder of the Happiness Lab, suggests that we approach our resolutions with kindness and self compassion. The orders from our “inner drill sergeant” to lose weight or exercise more, rarely work.  Instead, Ms. Santos steers us towards a more positive, happier mindset by counting our blessings, becoming more present, and switching from a “me, me, me” focus to helping others.  Studies show that “people are happier when they’re helping people in need.”

Emerson Weber, photo taken by her dad, Hugh Weber

Now, it just so happens that today begins Universal Letter Writing Week.  This occurs every year during the second week in January. This event runs from January 10th to the 16th.  It’s a week devoted to writing letters to family, friends, anyone. The challenge is simple- write a letter everyday for 7 days. With the pandemic still raging, writing letters to stay connected is a heartfelt and safe way to go. It will also give us an opportunity to put some of the above happiness concepts into action!  For example…

Marie Zedig Designs

Counting Your Blessings-

Writing a thank you note is the perfect way to express gratitude. Remember Emerson Weber? She’s the young girl pictured above. “Em” wrote a thank you note to her mail carrier. My friend, Adam wrote a thank you to his gym. I thanked my library. It may seem like a small and insignificant thing to do, but guaranteed, it will be appreciated.

Focus on Others-

Writing letters to friends, family, and pen friends is the most authentic, private, and safe way to communicate during this time of self isolation and increasing loneliness.

“Pandemic or not, studies show that the act of letter writing has tremendous benefits for both the writer and the recipient.”(AARP-Pen Pals Share the Joy of Letter Writing) The mere act of writing a letter, focusing on just one person with pen in hand is an exercise in concentration and deep connection.

Writing to Strangers-

Lauren Maxwell in her article in Glamor- Feeling Lonely? Write a Letter to a Perfect Stranger, exclaims- “Letters can’t replace hugs, but in my experience they come close.” She adds, “Having a pen pal changed quarantine—it was like my door cracked open and new light beamed through.”

Finding a Pen Friend-

If you are interested in finding a pen friend-Penpalozza looks promising.  It was started last year and has global reach. But my favorite resource for pen pals is always The Letter Exchange, which has been connecting people since 1989. I have made many wonderful friends through LEX.

Love for our Elders

Love for our Elders-

Seniors love receiving mail. Their isolation and loneliness is very real. And with family and friends prohibited from visiting during the Covid lockdowns, they are hungry for connection. Love for our Elders is just one organization that exists to generate pen friends for senior citizens. Or you can reach out to any number of nursing homes or assisted living facilities in your locale to see if they have a letter program.  Or you could adopt a neighbor as a pen friend, and write to them. I leave a card for Bernie, my neighbor down the street, whenever there is a special holiday.

Get the Kids Involved-

It’s never too soon to get kids writing letters. They won’t need much convincing if you invite them to write to family members they may have missed over the holidays. And they all miss their friends from school. I found this kit that a homeschooling mom put together, complete with a rubber stamp, pen, stationery and envelopes. (see Amazon link below)

It’s a great idea, but kids are just as happy with loose leaf paper and an arrangement of markers and crayons.

By all means, do involve the kids in this week’s challenge.

Looking forward- 

I hope that you will join me during this Universal Letter Writing Week by sending out some joy in the form of a few handwritten letters. Find the avenue that works best for you. Just know that these other ideas are out there. By writing letters you are helping to connect people during this time of severe disconnection. I am sure that you will feel better and even happier for making this fresh start in this very new year. Thanks.

____________________________________________________________________________

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jan/08/i-teach-a-course-on-happiness-at-yale-this-is-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-resolutions

https://www.aarp.org/disrupt-aging/stories/info-2020/pen-pal-clubs.html

http://penpalooza.com/

https://www.letter-exchange.com/

https://loveforourelders.org/

https://www.amazon.com/Kids-Stationary-Set-Girls-Boys/dp/B07WP6J88G?ref_=ast_sto_dp

https://www.glamour.com/story/feeling-lonely-write-a-letter-to-a-perfect-stranger

Filed Under: Handwriting, Holiday, Letter Writing in the News, Pen pals, Projects for Kids, Stationery Tagged With: AARP, compassion, connections, Covid, Emerson Weber, Feeling Lonely? Write a leter to a perfect stranger, fresh starts, Glamor, gratitude, homeschooling, Hugh Weber, Janus the Roman god of beginnings, kindness, Lauren Maxwell, Laurie Santos, letter writing kit for kids, LEX, lockdowns, loneliness and isolation, love for our Seniors, Marie Zedig Designs, New Year Resolutions, pandemic, Pen Pals Share the Joy of Letter Writing, Penpalozza, resolutions, thank you notes, the guardian, The Happiness Lab, The Letter Exchange, Universal Letter Writing Week

Subscribe

Subscribe to our mailing list for occasional newsletters and notices of new posts




Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010

Copyright © 2025 · Carol Christmas · website by Hardenbergh Design · Log in