The Revival of Letter Writing
When I was a kid, I loved to run to the mailbox and see what we received that day. Back then, it would be full of bills and beautiful catalogs but, more importantly, handwritten letters and cards. It was so exciting to find out who had sent a letter to one of us. People mailed handwritten letters and postcards from all over the world. There were birthday cards, invitations, letters from family and friends, and exotic postcards. I received them up until I went to college and email took over.
“I like writing letters and receiving letters. It’s a shame that we’ve lost the art of letter writing and saving correspondence. I mourn that.”
Image Courtesy of Diane Helentjaris, Unsplash
It's rare to receive anything in the mail these days. Many people don't even send party invitations through the mail. They just create an event on Facebook. Gone are the letters from family members writing to catch up or vacationers detailing their exciting trip. But it's such a nice feeling when one does receive a card or letter in the mail.
When I was in elementary school, we learned how to compose a letter. We were taught how to address it and what structure to give the letter. I wonder if the kids are still taught those things or if they're already accustomed to doing everything on a smart-phone or tablet. It's true that writing emails and instant messages is faster, but I love that feeling of excitement each time I walk to the mailbox. Isn't it time we revive the art of letter writing? It's such a special way to keep in touch.
When someone goes to the trouble of handwriting a letter or a card, it makes us feel special. They took the time to remember our birthday or want to wish us well and let us know how they're doing. Sending a handwritten letter is an act of love. Read that again.
An act of love.
Image Courtesy of Debby Hudson, Unsplash
It's also a way to connect. I had a pen pal when I was in middle school. She was a girl my age who lived in Turkey. We wrote letters back and forth and learned about each other's daily lives and culture. And I found out that a teenage girl living in another country across the globe wasn't all that different from me. We can all learn a thing or two by exchanging letters with people who might be different from us.
Remember the cards from your grandmother? My grandma had beautiful penmanship and I loved receiving her cards for each holiday throughout the year. It was a way to stay connected across the miles that separated us. And now that she's gone, I can still look at those cards and feel close to her.
Today we are all super busy. We shuttle between work, school, activities, sports, dinners, and meetings. Our cell phones are always with us and we feel naked without them. The phone is our connection with the world. Our calendar, contacts, and lists are right there is that little handheld device. It makes life easy. It also makes it impersonal.
So many of us long for those slower, simpler days when we shared real, meaningful interaction with people. The friendship and the love that we couldn't share in person, was poured onto paper and sent like a little present to someone's mailbox.
“It’s funny; in this era of email and voice mail and all those things that even I did not grow up with, a plain old paper letter takes on amazing intimacy.”
But who should you write to?
There are people all over the world you can write to, it doesn't have to be someone you know. You could write a letter to a soldier overseas or send a card to a lonely person in a nursing home. You'd be sending a message of love and hope through the mail.
Whether you decide to write to your Aunt who lives across the country or to a friend who's living abroad, you can make them smile with just a piece of paper. So grab that beautiful stationery (or just a piece of scrap paper) and get to writing. If you don't know what to write, start out simple.
Just say, "I was thinking of you".
Isn't that what we all want - to be thought of?
I know I do.
Image Courtesy of Rhodi Lopez, Unsplash
I hope you will send that holiday card, letter, or postcard the next time you think about the people you care about. I know it will brighten their day.
If you are interested in becoming a member of my Handwritten Letter Society, click here for more information!
XOXO,
Anna Kat
