Ever since I went to India and Europe in 2010, I’ve had an open door policy when it comes to postcards. Before I leave, I post a call for addresses on my Facebook. Anyone who gives me their address gets a card – no questions asked. Half of the responses are close friends and family, but my experiment gets interesting beyond that core social circle.
From university friends I haven’t spoken to in years, to co-workers I was sure disliked me, to the near random ‘friend of a friend of a friend’; I always get a few surprises thrown in there. To clarify, pleasant surprises! I love sending postcards – there’s something romantic and old world about it. The fact that I’m somewhere far away, and I’m going to write you a couple of lines on this piece of paper that will then journey half way across the world to get back to you. It’s the best way to send part of your trip back home, or include someone in your trip in some small way. Plus, foreign stamps are the best.
The other half of the equation is that everyone loves receiving a postcard. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of a few, and there’s nothing quite like a piece of mail that isn’t a bill. Or a note from a friend that isn’t electronic. Or maybe it’s knowing that someone actually took the time to pick out a card, write to you, and go to the post office.
Either way, I don’t think I’ll ever stop my postcard policy. I get to take the joy and wonder from my trip and spread it around – in that little spark of happiness when you spot it in your mailbox. So whether you stick it on the fridge, press it into a book, or throw it out – if you ask, you shall receive. (Well maybe, see below.)
Tip: I learned the hard way that only about 50% of the cards I write actually get to where they’re going. So I’ve learned to take pictures of both sides of each postcard before I send them. That way if it doesn’t get to its recipient you can send them the picture – which is almost as good.