I started a snail mail club.

It's called Proud of You 💌

We spend so much time on our screens.

Scrolling, texting, emailing. On Zoom calls. Opening our 1,000th tab and forgetting to close any of the others. Replying to messages we forgot to respond to yesterday. Even the meaningful work we care about, people we love, and ideas that matter often come to us as a notification. I don’t know about you, but I miss the days of not being available 24/7. Lately (and honestly for a while now), I’ve been craving more experiences and connections that exist off the screen that are slower and more tactile.

I love the world outside the scroll. I love the physical world of connection… the smell and feel of paper, the eagerness behind opening an envelope not knowing what’s inside, and the way your eyes move differently when they’re not backlit. I love small surprises that don’t pop up in a notification bubble. I love checking the mailbox and finding something that’s not a bill or junk.

Studies have found that receiving handwritten letters reduces loneliness and promotes emotional connection, even when sent between strangers (Frank et al., 2023).

So, I decided to start a snail mail club.

Part of the inspiration for starting this came from a birthday gift I received in college from my best friend, Michael, who lived in another state at the time. He made and sent a postcard every day for a year. Every single day, I looked forward to opening my mailbox to a one-of-a-kind handmade postcard waiting for me. I still have them all. It’s one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever been given, and the thoughtfulness of it has stayed with me.

I have also kept every card sent by my grandma Betty, who passed away in 2023. She would scour the card aisles looking for the perfect one for each person (and you could tell). They were always incredibly thoughtful and included a handwritten note, which, I still hear in her voice when I read them. I keep them in a box and look at them whenever I’m missing her.

a handful of the postcards I received from Michael back when we were in college

I’ve always loved the ritual of checking the mailbox and finding something unexpected and meaningful that connects, teaches, or simply reminds you that someone is thinking of you. Proud of You is a way for me to bring that feeling into the world. I hope it feels thoughtful, nostalgic, and like a small antidote to the loneliness so many of us carry. It’s a way to feel connected, seen, and supported (even from afar).

Each month, I’ll send out a letter that will include encouragement and practices that cultivate positive change, like writing, research, exercises, reflection prompts, and/or tools for improving self-worth, stress, burnout, self-doubt, feelings of helplessness, connection to yourself and others, and more. It’s a way for me to share my work in a slower, more intentional way. It’s also been the most fun I’ve had in a long time!

photo of my first letter by Lauren Miranda

My hope is that it acts as a fun and supportive ritual, opening your mailbox to find a meaningful letter that feels like a thoughtful pause amidst the rushed feeling we often get when checking our phones.

I love being able to get creative with the materials of the letter itself: the color and texture of the paper and envelope, and even searching for the perfect stamp (I bought these Goodnight Moon stamps for my June letter). I’m looking forward to receiving snail mail responses to the letters myself! It’s reminded me of the importance of small moments of connection we can create with each other offline.

Researchers have found that physical letters, when compared to digital communication, can spark deeper emotional engagement and curiosity. In one study, students who received letters and photo albums from scientists during a school project reported the experience as more personal and emotionally engaging than digital communication, sparking enthusiasm and curiosity about science (Stiller-Reeve et al., 2023). As an educator, this is so exciting to me!

Other studies suggest that writing letters can lead to increased prosocial behavior, suggesting it helps regulate emotions and increase empathy (Schnedler & Stephan, 2018).

Letters have the ability to carry an emotional weight and sense of permanence not present in digital communication. They foster reflection, deepen emotional bonds, and are often treasured as keepsakes. It’s been meaningful to create with this in mind, which feels very different than how I think about what I share online. There’s something special about knowing the words I write will be opened by hand, read slowly, and maybe even saved.

If receiving something like this sounds meaningful to you, you can learn more about Proud of You here. The next letter will be making its way out into the world on May 10th (and will continue to be sent out monthly).

Thanks so much for reading!

xo,

Claggie

P.S. I'd also be remiss not to mention other meaningful mail subscriptions that exist. I am definitely not the first, and highly recommend checking out the below (and if you know of more or have one of your own, I'd love to hear about it):

Poem Club - Poem Club is an ongoing mail poetry project created by artist & poet Brittany V Wilder. It’s currently full, but she opens up her waitlist monthly.

The Flower Letters - I love the idea behind these letters. They involve storytelling through pages of personal letters sent between characters to immerse you in the story.

Catdroool Club - When you subscribe, you receive original risograph-printed art in the mail every month. Hannah also recently launched an art vending machine!

P.P.S. I’ve loved receiving photos from recipients of the first letter, and here are a couple of favorites:

photo of my first letter by elise joseph james

photo of my first letter by elise apffel