Wordy Wed: 52 Stamps

Letter writing is fast becoming a thing of the past. With the dawn of e-mail, twitter, Facebook, Facetime and Skype, the act of sitting down and putting pen to page is, I fear, soon to be relegated to the same attic that holds the typewriter, the Sunday Picnic and drive, and Floppy disk. While I will be the first to admit some things have run their time and are now outdated, letter writing is not--nor ever should be--one of them.

There is something that changes when words are put to paper (note I say paper and not computer screen, ipad screen or any other screen); they become permanent, more real.

As we begin a new year many people will subscribe to the tradition of making a New Year's Resolution. And, come January 2nd will subscribe to the tradition of breaking said resolution. Here are a few thoughts as you move forward in your 2014.

The biggest cause of failure in New Year’s Resolutions is accountability.* When only accountable to oneself, it is easier to let said self off the hook. “I am not failing anyone but me.” And while failure to self should be a motivator (who really wants to fail themselves?) it instead becomes an excuse.

Put someone else in the picture and now you are accountable.

The second biggest cause of failure is over-demanding. If your mentality is that of:

 "I MUST do something “EVERY”day or “EVERY” time"

you are setting yourself up for failure. Why? Because you are demanding too much, too quickly. You can’t decided one day you want to run a marathon, and two weeks later expect to do it; yet so often this is what a New Year’s Resolution looks like: the unachievable demand.

Which brings me to the title: 

52 Stamps

This year, instead of focusing on yourself for your New Year’s Resolution, try this: Focus on Someone Else

• Who can you think of to write a letter to? 
• Do you know 52 people? 
• Can you commit to writing a letter once a week? 

It doesn’t have to be long, or deep; a simple sentiment can say more than a novel if the right words are there. And how much do you enjoy getting mail? Not, e-mail, not text, but actual cards, in the mail, with a stamp? Everyone needs to know they are thought of. Everyone needs to know someone else cares, and while we may believe those whom we love know this, that cannot replace expressing it.

In a world existing more and more in a virtual realm (which often isolates rather than connects) a stamp holds a new meaning: you matter enough to have some of my time.

And we know time is a precious thing. We are slow to give it away, quick to want it back. Taking time out to remind someone they matter, to properly say thank you, to encourage, or to inspire, might help you remember how much you matter, and you might come to learn something new about yourself. Maybe you'll strengthen a friendship, start a new relationship, become someone's meantor, confidant, etc.; and maybe, just maybe, you'll gain the confidence to achieve that (other) New Year’s Resolution.

Happy 2014!