This place is not quite dead. Thankfully, some people still wander by this blog, appreciate the idea and send in addresses of their loved ones.
The inflow of requests is a little less than I expected (just below a dozen since the last update) but slowly and surely, the idea is picking up. Most requests have come in the last 2-3 months, and that means the idea is still viral, finds its way across to people with some will force of its own.
Take for example Toolika. She dropped by last month and left words of encouragement that mean a lot to me. Thanks Toolika!
A sweet email from a blogger friend thought it's time to brief up people that Anonymous Smiles is still alive and kicking. She gently prodded if the project is still on and then went on with her requests. She wants me to send postcards to three people. The gesture is her way of forgiving and forgetting and I am touched she chose me as the medium.
With this new flush of requests, including two email postcards that I have just sent, my enthusiasm has more than doubled. You know, let me confide, I was slowly giving up on the idea, feeling it has not many takers after a long spell of no addresses in the mailbox. But now, I am up to this with a renewed energy. Postcards are on their way and I am sure, they will bring quite some pleasant surprises when they reach.
In the meantime, spread the word. Eagerly awaiting requests for postcards and e-postcards...Send addresses to anonymous.smiles@gmail.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Updates... Anonymous Smiles on their way!
Hello!
Thanks to some people, who took time out to remember other people, and trust this strange business that i call Anonymous Smiles, colourful postcards are doing rounds of various post offices across India. Now now, I know I am exaggerating. But that line sounded so grand. :D
So here are some postcards that I sent, and the people who so graciously took part in the idea by sending across a request.
Shekhar 'inaugurated' Anonymous Smiles with an ingenious request to get a postcard delivered to himself. Yay! People that's a great option. If you can't think of anyone in particular, you might as well do with a dainty little postcard for yourself, out of the blue...
Aditi just "LOVED the concept of anonymous smiles" - and had a perfect candidate: her 11-year old neice, recently stepped into puberty and a little overwhelmed with all the attention and cramping!
Joseph Pinto wanted a card delivered to 'a dear friend from 1973'
Anu said it was a 'llovely idea of sending postcard to anonymous people' and was pleased when the postcard reached her dear one...
Suren wanted to send a smile to a friend who 'seems to be in a very depressing phase now. All I want to do is make her smile. And I guess nothing can do it better than your post'.
Aditya wanted to send a card to his friend. It's a different story that the card seemingly took ages to reach (or the recipient was too surprised to track the sender down! :)
Sai said this: "Hi. I went through your blog and am so happy and surprised to see such a thought provoking act done. Hats off... could you pls send a card to the below mentioned loving old couple (my parents)" .
Rakesh wanted to send cards to Jharkhand and New Delhi
Nitya wanted to surprise a friend in Chennai, who happens to 'collect postcards as a hobby'
Join the idea. Send in an address at anonymous.smiles@gmail.com
Thanks to some people, who took time out to remember other people, and trust this strange business that i call Anonymous Smiles, colourful postcards are doing rounds of various post offices across India. Now now, I know I am exaggerating. But that line sounded so grand. :D
So here are some postcards that I sent, and the people who so graciously took part in the idea by sending across a request.
Shekhar 'inaugurated' Anonymous Smiles with an ingenious request to get a postcard delivered to himself. Yay! People that's a great option. If you can't think of anyone in particular, you might as well do with a dainty little postcard for yourself, out of the blue...
Aditi just "LOVED the concept of anonymous smiles" - and had a perfect candidate: her 11-year old neice, recently stepped into puberty and a little overwhelmed with all the attention and cramping!
Joseph Pinto wanted a card delivered to 'a dear friend from 1973'
Anu said it was a 'llovely idea of sending postcard to anonymous people' and was pleased when the postcard reached her dear one...
Suren wanted to send a smile to a friend who 'seems to be in a very depressing phase now. All I want to do is make her smile. And I guess nothing can do it better than your post'.
Aditya wanted to send a card to his friend. It's a different story that the card seemingly took ages to reach (or the recipient was too surprised to track the sender down! :)
Sai said this: "Hi. I went through your blog and am so happy and surprised to see such a thought provoking act done. Hats off... could you pls send a card to the below mentioned loving old couple (my parents)" .
Rakesh wanted to send cards to Jharkhand and New Delhi
Nitya wanted to surprise a friend in Chennai, who happens to 'collect postcards as a hobby'
Join the idea. Send in an address at anonymous.smiles@gmail.com
Thursday, August 14, 2008
What is Anonymous Smiles?
It's a simple experiment to spread some colour and cheer. You send me an address and I will have the pleasure to post a colourful, handmade postcard greeting on your behalf. As simple as that.
Why spread anonymous smiles?
Just because to spread smiles and surprise people in a way they least expect can give you a kick...
It will also make you feel good if you be instrumental in spreading cheer by sending across an address.
When this idea struck?
It's been there since a long time now. I love writing letters and drawing postcards. I buy postcards by the dozen and draw on them what my mood dictates me to. Most of the times it's flowers in bright colours. I thought it would be fun if I put my free time to good use by being a mediator of cheer.
Whom can I send a card through Anonymous Smiles?
Anyone. Including you. Anyone who think will have a moment's smile after receiving a handmade postcard.
I have thought of collecting addresses of people in old age homes, or parents of NRIs staying alone. If you can help me send a card to such people, let me know...
Whom we depend on to deliver the little scraps of joy?
The Indian Postal System. Your neighbourhood postman.
The fifty paisa 3" by 5" yellow postcard, to be precise. The medium could also be the twenty-five paisa Meghdoot postcard which, in spite of a paper and printing quality far better than the fifty paisa one, has become very hard to find these days.
Most of all, we depend on the belief that the cheapest medium of communication is still given its due respect and shall be delivered sooner if not later.
Why should I send a postcard when I can buy a fancy card?
Because a postcard is hundred times cheaper. Actually, here its free of cost and something in which physical time, energy and efforts have gone. Handmade greetings are rare these days, won't you agree?
Anonymous Smiles is a one-way communication, a moment of cheer that you can send to surprise. It's one of those eccentric quirks that might just brighten someone's day.
Here's a look at the kind of postcards that will reach out to people:
Now, it can't be this simple. What's the catch?
I send only postcards. That means AS is limited to people in India as of now. However, in case you don't have a proper postal address, Anonymous Smiles can also send designed JPEG cards by email.
Also, friends took anywhere between less than a week to more than a month to receive the postcards. This means AS cannot take responsibility of time-bound messages.
How do I know the addresses are safe with you?
Doesn't anyone from your mobile company to your bank to your travel agent send you unsolicited advertisement mailers?
Rest assured I won't add to your worries. The addresses I may receive will be stored safely and will not be bartered with anyone, for anything.
The thing is, this is one initiative from a single person. Trust is all I can ask and trust is all you can give at this stage...
Alright. Tell me where do I send the addresses?
Right here at anonymous.smiles@gmail.com
How else can I help?
By telling your friends about Anonymous Smiles. A simple way to help would be to blogroll this page. Also, you could put up the cheery logo I have made on your blog to support the idea. Copy the html code given below:
[a href="http://anonymoussmiles.blogspot.com"][img alt="Anonymous Smiles" width="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh251UV2UAKLk3aCswk5Dl4Ol4cApTSeP6qa2nXoekfCoJWo29CvoF_NaEfrgkqiam_b3DXMwHDNgEnXDUjTYLZjkSL7CRdGWM2pBXK8jQPCBbu9VVo0vkHaFu_veRRIIa0E0vmkvOZ6g1U/s400/LOGO5.jpg" height="157"/][/a]
[a href="http://anonymoussmiles.blogspot.com/"]Click to know more[/a]
Replace [ with <> in the above code before publishing.
Let's spread some cheer..
:)
It's a simple experiment to spread some colour and cheer. You send me an address and I will have the pleasure to post a colourful, handmade postcard greeting on your behalf. As simple as that.
Why spread anonymous smiles?
Just because to spread smiles and surprise people in a way they least expect can give you a kick...
It will also make you feel good if you be instrumental in spreading cheer by sending across an address.
When this idea struck?
It's been there since a long time now. I love writing letters and drawing postcards. I buy postcards by the dozen and draw on them what my mood dictates me to. Most of the times it's flowers in bright colours. I thought it would be fun if I put my free time to good use by being a mediator of cheer.
Whom can I send a card through Anonymous Smiles?
Anyone. Including you. Anyone who think will have a moment's smile after receiving a handmade postcard.
I have thought of collecting addresses of people in old age homes, or parents of NRIs staying alone. If you can help me send a card to such people, let me know...
Whom we depend on to deliver the little scraps of joy?
The Indian Postal System. Your neighbourhood postman.
The fifty paisa 3" by 5" yellow postcard, to be precise. The medium could also be the twenty-five paisa Meghdoot postcard which, in spite of a paper and printing quality far better than the fifty paisa one, has become very hard to find these days.
Most of all, we depend on the belief that the cheapest medium of communication is still given its due respect and shall be delivered sooner if not later.
Why should I send a postcard when I can buy a fancy card?
Because a postcard is hundred times cheaper. Actually, here its free of cost and something in which physical time, energy and efforts have gone. Handmade greetings are rare these days, won't you agree?
Anonymous Smiles is a one-way communication, a moment of cheer that you can send to surprise. It's one of those eccentric quirks that might just brighten someone's day.
Here's a look at the kind of postcards that will reach out to people:
Now, it can't be this simple. What's the catch?
I send only postcards. That means AS is limited to people in India as of now. However, in case you don't have a proper postal address, Anonymous Smiles can also send designed JPEG cards by email.
Also, friends took anywhere between less than a week to more than a month to receive the postcards. This means AS cannot take responsibility of time-bound messages.
How do I know the addresses are safe with you?
Doesn't anyone from your mobile company to your bank to your travel agent send you unsolicited advertisement mailers?
Rest assured I won't add to your worries. The addresses I may receive will be stored safely and will not be bartered with anyone, for anything.
The thing is, this is one initiative from a single person. Trust is all I can ask and trust is all you can give at this stage...
Alright. Tell me where do I send the addresses?
Right here at anonymous.smiles@gmail.com
How else can I help?
By telling your friends about Anonymous Smiles. A simple way to help would be to blogroll this page. Also, you could put up the cheery logo I have made on your blog to support the idea. Copy the html code given below:
[a href="http://anonymoussmiles.blogspot.com"][img alt="Anonymous Smiles" width="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh251UV2UAKLk3aCswk5Dl4Ol4cApTSeP6qa2nXoekfCoJWo29CvoF_NaEfrgkqiam_b3DXMwHDNgEnXDUjTYLZjkSL7CRdGWM2pBXK8jQPCBbu9VVo0vkHaFu_veRRIIa0E0vmkvOZ6g1U/s400/LOGO5.jpg" height="157"/][/a]
[a href="http://anonymoussmiles.blogspot.com/"]Click to know more[/a]
Replace [ with <> in the above code before publishing.
Let's spread some cheer..
:)
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