The days stretch interminably, and so does the weather forecast: cold, rainy, cold and rainy, windy, cold, and snowy, at least for you friends in northern climes.
For me, each week in January and February seems to stretch longer than seven days.
I want to hibernate under the blankets and cocoon in the sweater I got for Christmas.
Venturing out to walk the dog brings us both in at a trot with a “brrr”! (At least from me.)
If anyone else out there feels a little down in January, especially this January, I’ve got a great antidote to that, and one I’m putting into practice this year. I’m going to warm up my winter days by focusing on someone else, by writing at least one encouraging note per week.
Sending someone else a little cheer always cheers me too.
I’ve learned that it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to let someone know you care with a little written encouragement. Snail mail? Seriously? With a stamp? It’s practically retro. Why put in the effort when you can text, send a DM or Slack, email, or even just call?
Here’s why: finding a hand-addressed, hand-written note in the mailbox from a real person can surprise and delight a person. It can make them smile and remind them that you care or simply that you see them. Just knowing that you took the time to write a few lines can make that person’s day.
It’s a simple thing. Your note doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to be long. “I was thinking of you today” or “I saw something that reminded me of you” or “I remembered that time when we …” or even, “Hi there! What’s new?”
Any notecard, index card, or sheet of paper will do, of course, and the most important thing is the message inside—your words for them.
But if you’re looking for something new or different, I’m excited to announce the new Glimsen Winter cards, available in the Shop. This is the fourth and final card in the “Beauty of the Seasons” series. Although I sometimes have to look a little harder to find beauty in the cold, sparse winter, I think this Winter card does a beautiful job of capturing it.
Regardless of what you choose to write on, remember that your message of cheer or encouragement or love can warm up the coldest winter day for your friend. So send it on.
Thank you for reading Glimsen, where I write about the beauty around us in nature, the arts, and the unexpected. If you like this post, sign up below to get a free gift of beauty and you’ll also receive my weekly blog posts in your inbox. Add more beauty to your life by signing up today.
Sweater photo by Katsia Jazwinska on Unsplash