Mays student revives the art of letter writing | Mays Impacts
Years into the future, when Holly has a life that looks different from the way it is now, she will be able to read these letters and revisit the experiences and lessons that shaped her into the woman she is today. “You’re not going to remember every emotion or every feeling that you felt, but I can tell you, through writing, you’ll be able to look back and feel like you were there,” Holly said.
(via Matt Kaspar)
A Young Man’s Follies is, in a sense, a collection of youth through letters of love & friendship, photographs, thing-a-ma-bobs, maps and more buried for decades.
This is amazing. Make some time to lose yourself in this.
(via Swiss Miss)
(via Andrew Williams)
The simple (but powerful) 15-minute ‘mind capture’ ritual – A Life of Productivity
Every once in a while when I find 15 minutes of quiet time, I shut everything off, my computer and cellphone included, set a timer for 15 minutes, and lay down with a blank notepad and no distractions.
I’m always surprised what I capture.
I do this as well. Usually about once a month. For years, I’ve used this GTD Guided Mindsweep that Coach Kelly from the David Allen Company led folks through on Twitter back then (I captured all of the tweets in order). It is a great way to “trigger” your mind to let loose of the things within and write them down.
(via Matt Kaspar)
How I use my notebooks – the February 2016 edition — The Finer Point
How I use my notebooks is something I think about a lot. In July 2015 I wrote a post on my notebook set-up exploring what notebooks I used and more importantly how I used them. However since July quite a bit has changed therefore I wanted to post a February 2016 update running through my notebook usage.
I will never tire of these sorts of posts. I love seeing how others put their notebooks to use and the reasons why.
The Most Precious Cargo for Lighthouses Across America was a Traveling Library
Portable lighthouse libraries, distributed across the United States in the 19th century, were a common but important part of life for families living under the constant work and near-isolation of the lighthouse watch.
Books were checked out and meticulously logged when borrowed. Fascinating stuff.
Despite those who say it’s dying. That it’s obsolete. That, more and more, machines will take over the tasks we use handwriting for. That schools will teach it less and less. Despite all of the obstacles and the naysayers, writing by hand will live on long after you and I are gone.
How do I know?
Our children. Mine and yours. All of us who write by hand and advocate its importance and advantages. We who have children will write by hand in front of those children. Through such actions they will learn from us that writing by hand is something one does. We will teach them to do the same.
We will show them that a handwritten “thank you” is a simple and meaningful display of gratitude.
We will show them that writing a letter by hand has personality and power an email never can.
We will show them that a memory captured by hand in a notebook is a treasure that will last for generations.
We will show them that the quickest of notes will outlast the longest of memories.
We will tell them about paper lasting hundreds and thousands of years longer than any operating system or word processor ever invented.
We will teach them. We will not only model this behavior we will actively advocate and teach it. We will explain the benefits and reasons. When they are old enough to take those lessons and turn them into appreciation and action, they will write by hand too. They will know the joy of a good pen and fine paper. They will know that, if you want something to last, you choose paper. Then, they will teach their children too.
If you don’t have children of your own, find one you know. A nephew or niece. A little brother or sister. A cousin or the kid of a friend. Give them a few pens and a notebook. Perhaps some Thank You cards, correspondence paper, and envelopes. Tell them why you are giving it to them. Show them your notebooks and letters. Tell them why you use them and why you think it’s important that they do to. They may not get it right away. That’s OK. Gently nudge them with encouragement every now and then. Show them the way.
A Short History of the Index Card
A 3 x 5 history of the cards that helped catalog all of human knowledge in a way anybody could use.?
The Origami bookmark you can make for free
Before you give up and think, “I can never get those damn paper folds right,” let me soothe your anxiety by explaining that making one of these cute and clever origami bookmarks is easy as pie and takes about a minute.
Very cool. Made a couple with my daughter tonight. Works like a charm.
What Makes The Stationery Community Great — The Pen Addict
Less than 18 months ago I was on the outside looking in. I wasn’t into pens or stationery, but decided to try out a fountain pen to see if it would help remediate growing RSI issues. I listened to the most recent Pen Addict fountain pen primer episode. Since then I have fallen deep into the pen, and other stationery, rabbit holes. Beyond that I have discovered what an amazing community there is here. As many have mentioned previously, the stationery community has been the best community that I have been a part of.
