I’ve discovered the joys of postcard-writing in middle age | Amanda Uhle
There are profound rewards of handwritten correspondence in our digital age I sent my first postcard, as a six-year old, to Olympian Mary Lou Retton, who returned an autographed black and white photo of herself in a wide smile and chic haircut. “‘GOOD LUCK USA ‘84” it said. There followed four relatively fallow decades for me as a postcard sender or receiver until last year, when I became…
In our digital age, there are profound rewards in handwritten correspondence. The author, Amanda Uhle, first sent a postcard to Olympian Mary Lou Retton when she was six years old. Retton responded with an autographed black and white photo of herself, along with the message "GOOD LUCK USA '84". Uhle became reacquainted with postcards last year, finding infinite possibilities within the small four by six inch format.
She received at least five dozen postcards and lost count of how many she sent out. Postcards have improved relationships, attention span, and her art and writing skills. A surge of dopamine is experienced upon mailing these small, one-of-a-kind messages. Uhle acquired vintage postcards from thrift-store finds, tucking them into gifts but using them more often as she amassed them.
She decided to distribute her collection during an 18-state tour, encouraging readers to take a postcard and write a note. These brief exchanges were satisfying and real, prompting meaningful conversations. Despite skepticism about starting a handwritten mail revolution, Uhle found postcards a convenient way to show appreciation for readers and seed exchanges with strangers.
The act of writing, reading, or receiving a postcard is a miniature 60-second connection with someone else, promoting mindfulness and reducing distractions from digital communication.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
