One thousand postcards
For more than a decade (with a brief pause during the COVID years), I’ve hosted an annual Christmas card writing party at the office. We invite friends, provide all the cards, stamps, and supplies, and spend an evening writing cards to loved ones, old friends, and occasionally complete strangers. At the end of the night, we gather them all up and send them into the world. Over the years, we've mailed cards to nearly 100 countries.
I've always loved these evenings. There's something surprisingly meaningful about sitting down and writing a few thoughtful words to another person. I enjoyed it so much that I even held Valentine's card-writing parties some years.
The internet has made it possible to communicate with almost anyone in the world, at any moment. Yet many of us feel less connected than ever. Most of our communication is instant (hello WhatsApp and text messages) and quickly forgotten. A postcard is the opposite. It is slow. It takes effort. It travels through the hands of strangers. It occupies physical space. It can be pinned to a wall, tucked into a book, displayed on a desk, or rediscovered years later at the bottom of a drawer.
For the past few months (actually a year or two!), I've had a small idea rattling around in my head: The One Thousand Postcard Project. The premise is simple. I want to send 1,000 postcards to 1,000 people. Real postcards, written by hand, sent through the mail to people I have never met.
If you'd like to receive one, fill out this form. At some point in the coming weeks or months, a postcard with your name on it will find its way to your mailbox. I want to see what happens when a thousand small moments of attention are sent out into the world. I want to learn a little about the people who choose to participate. And I want to create a tiny network of strangers connected by something tangible. So let me send you a postcard.