Postcards from the Edge
Are postcards a lost art? A recent article in the Washington Post posited that the usage of postcards is in serious decline.
Have we become so addicted to smartphones and social media that we have forgotten about this more tactile and meaningful form of expression? Yes, sending postcards is old-fashioned and dare I say outdated since social media has made it easier than ever to communicate instantly and effectively. The time and effort it takes to select an appropriate card, compose a message, procure a stamp and locate a place to mail it, can be so great an inconvenience that it's no wonder many travelers have chosen to forgo the custom of sending one. Nowadays, people are more likely to text, tweet, Facebook update, Instagram post, email or upload photos of their travels. It surely beats shopping for postcards and all the necessary supplies while on holiday right?
Yet I will say that postcards are still very much relevant and worthwhile in today's society. In this digital age, postcards are a profoundly personal, evocative, and engaging mode of communication that transcends time and space, sweetly reminding us that dear friends are thinking about us.
So I have taken the plunge and joined the social experiment known as PostCrossing, where people send and receive postcards anonymously and randomly! I am super excited to see how it goes!
Have we become so addicted to smartphones and social media that we have forgotten about this more tactile and meaningful form of expression? Yes, sending postcards is old-fashioned and dare I say outdated since social media has made it easier than ever to communicate instantly and effectively. The time and effort it takes to select an appropriate card, compose a message, procure a stamp and locate a place to mail it, can be so great an inconvenience that it's no wonder many travelers have chosen to forgo the custom of sending one. Nowadays, people are more likely to text, tweet, Facebook update, Instagram post, email or upload photos of their travels. It surely beats shopping for postcards and all the necessary supplies while on holiday right?
Yet I will say that postcards are still very much relevant and worthwhile in today's society. In this digital age, postcards are a profoundly personal, evocative, and engaging mode of communication that transcends time and space, sweetly reminding us that dear friends are thinking about us.
So I have taken the plunge and joined the social experiment known as PostCrossing, where people send and receive postcards anonymously and randomly! I am super excited to see how it goes!