Dear Stamping Friends,
Well, 2020 is behind us. What a year–roller coaster of emotions and events, but reflecting back also many meaningful lessons and silver linings. I am grateful for 2020. I learned to not take anything for granted: my health, my time spent with others face to face, and doing the things I love (like eating at a restaurant and going to the movies!) because just like that, in a snap, it can all change. I have always loved being home (even pre-pandemic I was a telecommuter reporting into the main office in NYC but living in MA, and now NC), and being home with my family since March has been an amazing gift making me love it even more.
The other gift of 2020? Showing me how important having a craft like stamping is to me. I do not know what I would have done this year without my craft. I love it so much, it gives me tremendous joy, and since March I have used my craft to share that joy with others. I joined two RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) lists in March and have sent almost 250 cards to random strangers in need of a paper hug. While I hope my card brought a smile to the recipient, each time I popped a card in the mailbox my heart grew. To the 10 year old who was sad to have a Covid Birthday, or to the couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary alone this year, or to the young mom who just received a cancer diagnosis, or to the freshman college student who was not transitioning well because she was the only one in her dorm, or to the 100 patients at an assisted living facility who would be alone at Christmas, and to the many others…I still think of you. Another incredible gift.
So stamp on, dear friends, and let’s keep the joy going through 2021. We need it this year more than ever. Happy New Year, and happy stamping.
Kelly