One of my favorite things to do over the last few years is to write letters. After moving from Illinois to South Dakota I wanted a way to keep in touch with my best friend. Yes, texting and talking on the phone already existed at that time, but writing letters was a different way for us to keep in touch. I personally love receiving things in the mail, so it was a way for me to get that enjoyment a little more often as well. In the last year or so sending snail mail to multiple pen pals has become one of my favorite hobbies. Nowadays I like to decorate my letters with things like stickers and washi tape. Decorating my letters and their envelopes adds a little more fun and creativity to my letter writing.
Because I have become nearly obsessed with decorating my envelopes, I have acquired quite a large stash of washi tapes, all kinds of stickers, and stationery. I’ve also created quite the stash of pens for writing said letters, but that’s a whole other story.
Sending snail mail is a great way to meet people all over the world. I simply have pen pals in the United States, but many people send letters to people from several countries all over the globe. It may be difficult to figure out how to find a pen pal, but by using the internet it is actually quite easy. There are groups on Facebook, tons of people on Instagram looking for pen pals, and I have also found a couple of pen pals on Tumblr as well. There is a huge range of possibility. I remember when I was in middle school I found websites where people could find email pen pals. There are endless possibilities.
Whether you have one pen pal or thirty-seven, sending letters back and forth with people can be a very fulfilling experience. I have met so many nice people and learned so much about different parts of my country. Yes, you will need to give out your address, but if you are worried about safety, you could always get a PO Box at your local post office; which would make giving out your address a little safer. That being said, it is always good to try to get to know your pen pal a little before giving out too much information. While sending mail is fun and interesting, it is always good to play it safe and be careful.
