When was the last time you received a letter? One that came in the mailbox. An envelope with a stamp on it and your address had been handwritten.
When was the last time you wrote a letter or a thank-you note? No, not an email, a text message or a business letter, but an actual pen-to-paper correspondence that you sent in the mail. A Dear Aunty, Grandma, Family or Friend production filled with news and anecdotes. A card that simply says you are thinking about the other person.
I agree, writing on paper with a pen does have its drawbacks. There is no delete or backspace key to make corrections to your written thought process as you write. There isn’t a function that tells you when you have made a spelling error or your grammar needs some work.
But, the fun side is adding inserts to sentences, thoughts, paragraphs or pictures is looked after with symbols such as “^” to add a word. A line with an asterisk on the side of the page denotes you are adding an afterthought. And those stick people you are famous for can add character to the letter. All seen by the recipient as you, the human they know; and it’s only you can provide this personal touch.
The reality is, handwritten letters take time and effort. When they are finished, they need an envelope, a stamp and a trip to the post office or mailbox. They then take days to reach the person you are writing to, rather than the click of a button that would result in them having it in seconds.
Believe it or not, snail mail, as it is often called, is a heartwarming gift. It tells us that someone took time from their day to send their news or say hello.
Regardless of the envelope’s size or shape, you are pretty much guaranteed it will garner a smile. There truly is not too much that is better than receiving a letter sporting a handwritten address.
The tradition of writing letters and notes needs to be resurrected. It is not only a form of contact, but it is also a way for all generations to use skills that are not always taught in schools anymore. Spelling, cursive writing and penmanship to name a few.
Put a smile on someone’s face, take the time to get in touch with them through this time-honoured tradition that is fast becoming a lost art.
Personally, I have resurrected this so-called old-fashioned form of communication. I am more than happy to say that the term pen-pal is now alive and well in my life.
How about you? Will you unplug from technology and revive the time-honoured lost art tradition by writing a letter?
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