Begin at the beginning
October 15, 2011 § 6 Comments
It is because of my sister that I am a letter-writer. I was in third grade when she went off to college and I missed her like crazy. I started my first letter to her almost as soon as she pulled out of the driveway.
When I came up with the idea of Scribbling Glue as a 30 Day Challenge project, I hauled out a box of letters from long ago and tried to find the first letter I remember receiving. No luck. What I did find from my early days of scribbling were the letters my sister had sent me when she was in college.
Almost every single letter included thanks for recent mail I had sent to her and some variation on the request “Write to me!”
So, I did. And that’s how I became a letter writer.
When I shared my idea about starting Scribbling Glue, my friend and fellow 30DCer Elloa messaged me, “There is an art to letter writing that is fast being lost in today’s emailcentric world, and you are one of the pioneers reinvigorating it!“
This not only made my day, it helped me define my mission: To start a revolution and inspire people to connect with each other through the simple act of scribbling.
I’m very fortunate to have a number of scribbling friends, but there are people out there who have forgotten the thrill of a friendly letter in the mailbox, the delight of a love-filled line or two scrawled on a piece of scrap paper, the excitement of a note folded just so and passed across a classroom. I’m dedicated to bringing back that thrill, delight and excitement. And I’m daring you to join me! That’s right, I want YOU to write letters, too. Does that feel scary? Old-fashioned? Too much like school? Slow? Not your thing? Hang on, hold tight, and stick with me, because we’re going to throw out the rules and make it fun!
Scribbling Glue 
Love the idea Scribbling Glue! I look forward to learning more about the lost art of letter writing. Collecting the mail used to be fun, and now it is only ever bills…
So glad to hear you like the idea! I’m all in favor of putting the fun back in the mail.
Dear Annie,
Two days ago, you inspired me to send a handwritten note, something i hadn’t done for…. i can’t remember! It was in response to a job application. I hadn’t got the job but the letter was, for a change, very humanly written and also i was very touched that this person had bothered to let me know at all. Something very rare these days. So, at the risk of making a fool of myself or freaking her out, i decided to write her a short little handwritten note to thank her and say how much i had appreciated she had taken the time to write to me. The Art of Written Communication is being drowned by the lures of modern technology but if we care to reconnect with it, it would most certainly help us feel we are still humans. So a big thank you for that Annie.
Pascale, it is thrilling to know I’ve inspired a handwritten note! Thanks for sharing.
I love that you responded to a kind letter with a note of appreciation. The intersection between handwritten communication and thoughtfulness intrigues me a great deal (possible upcoming blog topic?). They both feed off of and into the sort of positive energy that comes from being present and attentive. Best of luck with your next job application!
Hello fellow 30DCer! Lovely idea you have. I always try to send postcards whenever I’m away – even tho sometimes I know I’ll beat the card back home. Shows people that you’re thinking of them. And I love getting cards in the post myself. Guarantees a smile. Plus they look great up on the kitchen shelves – can’t do that with a text!
Sticking cards up around the kitchen keeps the smiles going for weeks (or months, depending on if you let them stay as long as I often do).