Who doesn’t like getting mail?

I love getting mail, in fact, I get a lot of mail. I get mail from Sallie Mae, from Chase, from Animas, from Dexcom … but all of that mail is no fun. Usually, it’s because the mail in those envelopes isn’t wishing me a happy birthday or sharing a hug through words or sending me happy thoughts. Usually, that mail is asking for money. And as a grown-up, too, I imagine your mailbox looks very similar. But wouldn’t it be great to get a piece of mail in your mailbox that says,

“Hi! I have diabetes just like you! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I hope you’ll always remember there’s someone else out there that knows how you feel. Good luck and happy blood sugars!”

I mean, wouldn’t that just make your day? Imagine opening the mailbox and in between the Netflix envelope and the credit card bill, there was a small postcard with a blue circle on it smiling back up at you? The postcard wouldn’t be asking for money or asking you to join a fundraising team, but it would have a small, sincere note from someone else with diabetes perhaps in another part of the world.

I don’t know about you, but I would LOVE to get a postcard like that. And you know what? I will because I’m participating in the first World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange. November is Diabetes Awareness Month (be prepared for lots of posts containing the color blue), and Nov. 14 is World Diabetes Day. My friend, Leeann, over at The Butter Compartment (love her blog title) thought of this great idea to show awareness and support. Support for those who participate and receive a postcard and awareness for all the people who will see the cards as they travel the world through various postal systems.

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Well, here’s how you join in:

1) Send your mailing address to leeann@thebuttercompartment.com
2) She will send you an address
3) Use the blue circle and as much creativity as you can fit on a piece of 3.5″ x 5″ card stock.  Complete the mini D meme (below) on the back of the postcard.
4) Mail it to the person whose address Leeann sends you, ideally in time for them to receive it by Nov. 14.
5) You will get a postcard in the mail from someone else in the world living with diabetes!

The meme:
1) Your name:
2) Where you live:
3) Your connection to diabetes:
4) Type of diabetes:
5) Year of diagnosis:
6) One thing you do to Act On Diabetes:
7) One Word:

So won’t you join in? I can’t wait to see where my postcard comes from. And I can’t wait to stop and think about all the people it passed along the way to find its way to me.