1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,319 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning. 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: tip is that snail mail tends to delight people. Sending 4 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: a card or note doesn't take long, but it can 5 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: bring a lot of joy. So most people won't get 6 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: much personal physical mail until next December when holiday cards 7 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: start arriving. That is a pity because people love getting 8 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: personal mail as opposed to junk mail. In December is 9 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: a long time from now, so why not drop a 10 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: note in the mail and spread a little love in 11 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: the meantime. I have some practical tips for making this 12 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: feel more doable and fun. First, make sure you have 13 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: a file of mailing eyes address as handy. Probably you 14 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: do from your holiday cards, but if not, make one 15 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: that has the information on your friends and family members. 16 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: Here's a fun fact. If people own their homes, you 17 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: can often find their mailing addresses by searching online for 18 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: their names in the town where they live, because real 19 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: estate purchases are generally public records. But you can obviously 20 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: just send a quick text or email asking for this information. 21 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: You might also keep a stash of fun or funny 22 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: cards in your desk, stop by the dollar store and 23 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: pick up a batch. If you'd like to be a 24 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: little more elevated, you can look somewhere like a bookstore 25 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: or paper source. You can also buy hand decorated cards 26 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: from artisans at places like Etsy or if you have kids, 27 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: they are no doubt creating a lot of artwork, so 28 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: you could start sharing these masterpieces with other relatives. Just 29 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: fold one up and put it in an envelope. As 30 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: for what to say, well, this may feel awkward for 31 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: the first few cards or letters, but when people start 32 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: to see you as the person who sends the snail mail, 33 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: it will seem a lot less weird. So choose an 34 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: occasion that feels defensible, like a holiday or the anniversary 35 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: of something that you and the other person experience together, 36 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: and reach out. On that occasion. Just say thinking of you, 37 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: share one recent detail from your life, and send them 38 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: good wishes. There is no need to overthink this. You 39 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:32,839 Speaker 1: might also use snail mail as a way to send 40 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: printed photos. Most people don't have nearly enough printed photos 41 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: these days, so print them up from the last time 42 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: you saw a friend or family member and stick those 43 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: in the mail. It is pretty easy to order envelopes 44 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: that are large enough to accommodate a four x six photo. 45 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: Your notes don't have to be long. It is the 46 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: sheer thought that counts and the fun of getting something 47 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: in the mail that is not a catalog. Why not 48 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: give it a shot. If you get excited about sending 49 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: snail mail, you may want to keep a few cards 50 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: in your car or kitchen drawer, or anywhere else you 51 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: routinely find yourself with time that is not spoken for. 52 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: Then it's easy to write a note. Whenever you have 53 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: a few minutes. You can use your time confetti to 54 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: make someone's day. Because snail mail really is delightful in 55 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: a way that few other things that take a few 56 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: minutes and a few dollars can be. There is no 57 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: reason not to avail yourself of the opportunity. In the meantime, 58 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making 59 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. 60 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach 61 00:03:54,080 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast 62 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, 63 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: please visit the iHeartRadio, app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you 64 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.