Family Writing

In today's world, much of our personal interaction is confined to digital conversations and in-person exchanges with colleagues or classmates. If you're family, like mine, needs to be challenged to improve their writing skills or just communicate more often in writing, here are some ideas for you to try. As a family, we've done some of these ideas during Lent, in September for National Friendship Month or in November as part of our Thanksgiving traditions. We have also had years where we try to write a letter on Sunday afternoon each week. You can choose what ever works best for you.

Thankful Challenge

Grab some cards because we are going to flex those handwriting muscles. You can use any cards or stationery for this project. You may have cards lying around unused, maybe you can have a craft day and make your own, you can stop by a local store for their dollar cards or support a local PaperPie fundraiser and order a box of 30 for $30 in one of several different varieties. Send me a message if you're looking for a fundraiser or would like to order a box to help a current one. Or for more information, check here: Cards for a Cause. Speaking of Paperpie, there is also a cute book about friendship for your kiddo(s) that comes with 12 postcards that would be great for this, too. You can find it here - Friends.

Next, you can brainstorm 30 days of people to write to or send me a message for my curated list. These can be friends and family members or more specific like someone who inspired you or just someone who might need some encouragement. No matter who you choose, you are sure to brighten someone's day.

Cards for a Cause Fundraiser

Friends book

Journaling

Journaling has many benefits aside from improving our writing skills. It helps us relax by sharing feelings to gain introspection and dig deeper or resolve issues. Is also helpful to get things out of our mind so we don't have to remember them any more, like to do lists or things we want to accomplish. This helps free our mind to sleep or focus more on other tasks.

There are so many ways to journal. If you are just beginning, it might be easier to have some set topics to write about or questions to answer. PaperPie has a series of year long books that encourage journaling called My Year... or send me a message for a list of my curated questions. These are great to do with the family. The daily question or activity helps spark conversation and thoughtful introspection for you and your family to write about. You might consider a 5 year journal. This type of journal leaves space on each date for 5 years of thoughts so you can easily look back to what you were thinking the year prior and see your growth or how a dream was fulfilled or a prayer answered.

Gratitude

A third option is to keep a gratitude journal. This is journal you can keep beside your bed and record 3-5 things you are grateful for each day. It helps end your day in a good headspace and remember that regardless of how you are feeling there is always something to be grateful for.

What type of journaling do you do or would you like to begin incorporating into your life routine?