10 Ways to Spread Joy During National Letter Writing Month

There is something heartwarming about the sight of a handwritten note addressed to you. The weight of the envelope, the feel of the paper, the unique slant of the pen strokes all create a sense of connection that just can’t be replicated in an email or text. April is National Letter Writing Month and it’s the perfect opportunity to set aside some time to make someone smile with your words.

While we may not always think to write a letter, life offers so many good reasons to share uplifting words with one another. And your note doesn’t have to be long to be deeply impactful. That’s because the true gifts are your time, your thoughts, and your heart.

We’ve put together a few ideas of people you can reach out to this Letter Writing Month. Whoever you choose, we hope each note you share creates feel-good moments, and reminds you of the goodness that surrounds you all year long.

1. Send a note to your best friend. Include a photo of the two of you and fun stickers inside the envelope.
2. Write to a caring relative who lives far away and let them know they are on your mind.
3. Reach out to someone who’s made a significant impact on your life—a favorite teacher, mentor, or coach—and share a lesson you still treasure.
4. Get the kids involved! Help them write letters to friends, grandparents, or cousins.
5. Encourage a stranger with empowering sentiments by jotting down a mantra you love, a quote, or an affirmation. Leave your note in a Little Free Library for them to find.
6. Write to elders living in a nearby retirement community or to soldiers serving overseas.
7. Reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while—your first boss, a high school classmate, a former coworker you miss—and tell them how grateful you are your life paths crossed.
8. Write a love letter to your significant other. Leave it for them to find before work in the morning.
9. Add short notes to the back of ThoughtFulls cards, then tuck them into your neighbors’ mailboxes to brighten their day!
10. Thank someone who serves your local community well—a mail carrier, health-care worker, small business owner, librarian, or volunteer—and remind them how they make the world better just by being in it.