Our current situation has ushered in a level of uncertainty and stress. I am with you and understand. But it’s also welcomed more downtime to reflect, relax, and recalibrate this journey called life.

Chances are you have a box of stationery or note cards that rarely see the light of day. Maybe you get them out when you need to extend gratitude with a thank-you note. On the flip side, when was the last time a personal note arrived in your mailbox—one that wasn’t expressing gratefulness for your sweet gesture or sending you wishes for another trip around the sun?

Remember the excitement when you perused the mail and recognized the handwriting on the envelope? The old-school style of a grandmother, the structured architectural printing of a type-A friend, or that messy scribble of your friends at sleepaway camp who churned out letters during quiet time? I have such fond memories of childhood and writing letters just for fun. In seventh grade, I had a drawerful of brightly colored notecards from “paper by the pound” and heaps of Mrs. Grossman’s stickers. My best friend only lived a couple of miles away, but we regularly sent letters covered in stickers and colorful doodles back and forth by mail.

Names like Helvetica and Times have replaced those individual handwriting samples. And while the words executed with these fonts may be personalized, the aesthetic of an email or text is not. In past weeks, we’ve embraced new ways to socialize over computer monitors. So why not revisit the lost practice of corresponding with handwritten notes?

write in style

You may already have a suite of good-looking paper products. If you do, welcome to my club. I love stationery, too. If you don’t or you want to sneak new styles into your arsenal (Tip: If put to use, the “evidence” of the purchase disappears quickly), consider companies and makers that are new-ish to the paper game.

Sure, traditionalists won’t be able to veer away from a quality monogram. But now, your initials can take on their own version of style. In fact, anything that reflects your love of life—be it gardening, tennis, or music—can be printed, engraved, or letterpress-printed to make your stationery a snapshot of you. Personalize your paper suite, letting the recipient understand your personal mark and branding.

During this time, I challenge you. Write one note a day or even every few days. Shop local or through small online paper boutiques to reboot your now frequently used home office with beautiful stationery. We’ve already connected in new ways. Let’s reconnect in an old one.

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