Become a Pen Pal--Katherine McPherson

A simple card can be a joy to send or receive

Becoming a pen pal can be a great activity for someone who is not as social as s/he used to be. Receiving a note from a friend can be uplifting, and a letter or card is especially touching in today's world of text messaging and email. Additionally, engaging with a pen pal will encourage your loved one to regularly think about someone else.Thinking about others has benefits that include decreased anti-social behavior and depression, and increased optimism and self-worth.  

Maybe a daughter, son, friend or cousin would be a good pen pal to the person whom you are caring for. Ideally, correspondence should be regular (weekly or bi-weekly is an ideal starting point) and reciprocal. Notes do not need to be elaborate, but rather just positive and thoughtful. Even sending a simple note card with a message such as "sending a hug and good thoughts your way" can bring benefits to the receiver. Other ideas for notes are:

• an article you read during the week
• a quote that inspired you
• a joke that made you smile
• a fun memory
• a bible verse that speaks to you
• a small paper craft like a heart chain or a snowflake
• a picture
• a recipe you recommend
• a cartoon

Depending on your loved one, making the card can also be enjoyable and especially fun to receive. All that is needed is some paper and imagination- you never know when inspiration will strike. Just remember to have fun and enjoy knowing you will be helping create a bright spot in another person's day :)