In-person, face-to-face communication is fantastic, but there are times when a different approach may be helpful.

For example, if the two of you have an established communication pattern that doesn’t include vulnerability or ‘emotional’ language, suddenly sharing how much you appreciate them might feel awkward.

Timing can also be an issue. Sometimes it can be difficult to choose an appropriate time to have a more heartfelt or ‘serious’ conversation.

A fun and simple solution is to sit down with a pen and commit your thoughts to paper. The benefits are significant:

• the process of physically writing helps to clarify thoughts and ensure that you are communicating them clearly
• it can be less uncomfortable than trying to say the same things in person
• the written word shows time and care , and has a distinctly ‘personal’ quality (unlike texts or emails)

And it doesn’t need to be formal. It’s between the two of you, so write to them in a way that is similar to how you speak with them:

Yo!/Hey!/Dude…

I love that you do X and Y. It makes me (laugh/reflect/dream bigger/etc.).

Thanks for being (an inspiration/source of joy/someone to share X with).

Signed……

Don’t expect a response! Not speaking in person means that the other person isn’t obligated to respond. And if it’s the first time you’ve communicated in this way, then they may not feel comfortable responding in the same manner. Best to share your thoughts and assume that it landed - don’t go poking to get a response. Just write it and let it go, knowing that you showed up.

And who doesn’t like to get something in the mail? There’s something nostalgic, tactile, and delightfully analogue about a letter or postcard.

The hardest part will be finding a stamp.

Try it. Let me know how you get on.