A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about phone calls. This week we’re writing (or writing about) letters.

In middle school and junior high, I had several pen pals. Going to the Post Office to get the mail was always exciting because I never knew when I might get another envelope addressed to me with a hand-written note inside. The contents of the letters were never very exciting, but the act of opening and reading something written just for my eyes was worth the walk or bike ride to the mailbox.

After a long hiatus filled with emails, phone calls and the occasional card, I’ve taken to writing letters again. I don’t always get them in return, but sitting down with pretty stationary and a nice pen to write something is just as nice. Knowing that when the recipient opens the mailbox and sees that hand-addressed envelope amidst the junk mail and bills, she’ll smile and know I took extra time and care to send her something I had to put a stamp on.

For this week’s {Creativity Corner} prompt:

Write a letter to someone — anyone. It can be someone you haven’t seen in a while or someone you see every day. You don’t even have to mail it if you don’t want to. You could even write a letter to your (past or future) self.

In the letter, open up to the reader. Share a secret, a piece of advice or a story. Write as much or as little as you want. The only rule is that you must use a pen and some pretty stationary (or notebook paper, if you don’t have any stationary on hand).

When you’ve finished, consider how this exercise made you feel. I often find that when I set out to write a letter it ends up heading in a different direction than I initially intended. I’m more open than I had planned to be and more willing to share things that I hadn’t planned to share. Whether you actually send your letter or not, consider writing letters more frequently as a way to explore your thoughts and emotions. Like writing in a journal, writing a letter can be a freeing experience.

When you’re finished, please feel free to share something about your letter-writing experience in the comments. Remember, these are exercises. The results don’t have to be perfect. But to benefit from them, you actually have to do the work. Now head to your corners and come out writing!

(Image by Pink Sherbet Photography)