World Postcard Day, celebrated annually on 1st October, might be a marketing initiative launched relatively recently, but it’s a great excuse to write a postcard, and thus I am on board!
Regular readers will know that I am an avid pen pal, not only when it comes to family and friends, but also in my coaching and leadership work. For several years I even ran a postcard based leadership coaching service, AKA Long Distance Leadership Postcards 🙂
Positive Feedback by Post
One of the activities I designed around Postcards is called “Positive Feedback by Post” and it’s exactly that: a short, positive message you hand-write and give or send to the recipient.
Write about as much as might fit on an actual postcard, and simply focus on something that’s made a positive difference:
“Thanks for making me tea yesterday when I was really tired. I really appreciate it.”
“You speaking up in the meeting helped me find my own voice. Thank you!”
“You stepping in when things got busy saved the day. Cheers!”
Why not give it a go and write a small piece of positive feedback yourself. I bet you are going to make someone’s day 🙂
Why keep writing?
I’ve been a pen pal since my school days, when our school offered an International pen pal scheme to take part in. Ever since then, I’ve stayed in touch with friends made on holidays, colleagues met at conferences, long time friends and my family, too, through postcards and letters (and sometimes even parcels!).
In fact, I have boxes of correspondence collected over the years. I keep birthday cards and everyday letters, and I usually keep the envelopes and stamps, too.
In a life lived in a distributed world, it helps me stay connected, and to keep those connections meaningful. One postcard or letter equals many digital interactions, that’s for sure.
And I also love the pace of writing and thinking a little more slowly.
So here’s to World Postcard Day! Long may postal services keep delivering our mail.
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