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Why you should write a letter

6/24/2011

1 Comment

 
When's the last time you wrote a letter? Not emailed, texted, Skyped, Facebooked or Tweeted someone but actually put a pen or pencil to paper and wrote your thoughts down? Been that long, huh?

The art of actually writing a letter is on the verge of extinction due to technological "advances," some of which I mentioned above, but, in my humble opinion, there is nothing better than writing a letter to someone and/or receiving a letter from someone. I mean, think about it, you can send out a text/tweet/email/Facebook update to a million people at one time and only takes the minimalist of thought behind it.

A letter, on the other hand, is a personal experience and actually involves "work": finding paper, taking the time to gather your thoughts, putting the letter in an envelope, finding a stamp and then dropping it off in the mailbox. Those acts are infinitely longer than the time it takes to send a text but the payoff is much more impactful.

Case in point: my best friend lives in Michigan which is close to a million miles away from me here in Texas. We talk on the phone a lot (and occasionally via email or text) but, every now and then, I take the time to write him a letter and, as holidays dictate, send him a card in the mail. Why do I do that you ask? Other than the fact that I'm a writer and that I like to see words on paper, I know how HAPPY it makes HIM to receive something in the mail from him. I can hear it in his voice when he calls telling me that he got my letter or card and how he's gonna frame my letter and keep the Father's Day card I sent him up for a year. I'm sure he's exaggerating a bit but I know he's genuinely happy to receive it and that, in turn, makes me happy.

So, I challenge you dear readers of my blog, over the next few days, think of someone that you haven't written a letter to in a while (could be a friend, your grandma, sister, brother, whoever) and buy them a card or write them a letter. It doesn't have to be something long; it could simply say "I love you" or "Thinking about you."

You'd be surprised at how happy it makes both you and them!
1 Comment
Reena Jacobs link
6/24/2011 02:19:10 am

Other than cards on special days, I think the last time I wrote down a paper letter was just a few months before I married my husband. Even then, they were typed and printed. :)

I have been known to write an email letter though. Not just a quick note, but poor my heart out journal letter. But even then, it's been a couple of years for one of those.

After your post, I almost want to send a card to a long lost friend.

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