We recently discovered Bethany Hway’s creative blog b*spoke and we’re so glad we did! She is a wonderful source of inspiration, sharing her love of creating, designing, photographing and living. While exploring her blog we learned that this resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota recently teamed up with a penpal. Despite access to email, texts and Facebook these lovely ladies choose to communicate (mostly!) through handwritten letters, which of course we LOVE here at The Traveling Journal. We wanted to dig in to their connection a little further so that’s why we’re focusing on Bethany and Annie in this edition of Friendship Files.

Bethany: My name is Bethany Hway, and I live on the outskirts of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am a graphic designer, blogger and creative freelancer, and I work from my second-story studio in my cozy brick cottage. I enjoy sunny days, good food, and adventure. In my spare time, I love to travel, explore, photograph, design, create, cook, write, sew, think, plan, play and ponder.

Bethany:My penpal, Annie, and I met through my blog, b*spoke. She commented on a post, then later emailed me directly about something. I don’t recall now what it was about, but I responded and we traded several emails back and forth. Somewhere in there, I asked if she would want to become penpals. It was something I had been thinking about for awhile, and Annie just seemed like the perfect person to ask.

Bethany:We mostly communicate through letters, but sometimes we send an email or two. Most recently, we met each other in person. It was a short, but amazing visit. We instantly connected and I felt like I was sitting down with an old friend.

Bethany:I love the intentionality of it. I also love the act of putting a pen to paper and sharing bits and pieces of my life with someone miles and miles away. I love that it is not instant, and that the act of reading a letter requires a pause from the frantic hustle bustle of our technology-driven world.

Bethany:Yes, I do have a couple other long distance friends. One dear friend moved to Canada a couple years ago, and I still have childhood friends in northern Minnesota where I grew up.

Bethany:Mostly through email, but we also occasionally send a card or letter to say hello.