I’m sad to say the Love Letters Exchange will be the last formal exchange scheduled for Flourish. I won’t say it’s the last one we will ever do but after 10 years, and dwindling participation, I’ve decided it’s time to focus on other ways to exchange. This doesn’t mean we won’t ever have another exchange, just nothing scheduled as we have in years past.
I will always treasure the hundreds of envelopes I have received over the years! 
And I am very grateful to all of you who participated and made each exchange such a success!
I would like to encourage everyone who reads this post--the lurkers who are not members of FF, the members who have never posted here, those who have never participated in an exchange, those who haven't posted in a long time--to participate in this letter exchange.
Over time, websites and activities they sponsor wax and wane in popularity, this site and activity no exception. There are more "efficient" ways to share your work with others with online sites like Instagram and such, but sending someone a physical piece of your work, to savor and save for as long as they want, is so much superior, made unique by the name you put on the envelope, a little piece of their time, their life, they gave just to you. Such a gift.
And don't believe that "I'm not good enough yet--I'll try this when I'm better at it." That thought occurred to me when I joined FF in May of 2014, but I participated in my first exchange (of more than 60 on FF since) anyway in June of 2014--the Independence Day exchange--despite misgivings it wasn't very good. I sent 36 letters, 16 of which were to outside the country, and received back a beautiful tranche of letters from around the world. Such fun. A few exchanges later was my first Valentines Day exchange in Feb, 2015, my favorite exchange year after year. And the replies came in--from here to Singapore, to The Phillippines, to Italy, to Canada, to Germany. And now, like Erica, nearly 10 years later, I have this amazing collection of letters from around the world to enjoy. For some, it was a one time thing, others I was able to see them progress from beginners to high level professionals, some of whom even teach. It's been wonderful to see.
So do join us on this exchange.
I'm attaching scans to show you don't have to be "good" to participate--one from my first exchange, one from my first Valentines Day exchange (I have scans of all I have sent as well as the original replies).
Mike
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