As adults, we are all too familiar with the mundane routine of checking our mailbox only to leaf through grocery ads and release a heavy sigh as we add bills to the already growing pile on the kitchen counter. We are rarely ever greeted with our names on an envelope written in familiar handwriting. With today's technology, snail mail doesn't have the supportive fans that it used to. While I enjoy the "Happy Holidays" and "Happy Birthday" text messages, there's nothing quite like receiving a handwritten letter from a loved one, so let's help handwritten letters make a comeback in 2016.
1. Handwritten Letters Are More Personal
Even though there are so many ways to communicate with today's technology, if you sit down and take the time to personally write a letter to a loved one, it makes a lasting impression. I know you're probably thinking, "It's just so much easier to send an email or text." Yes, I agree, but it's more about sharing a connection with the person you're writing to. It's simply two people writing about experiences or stories that only they know and share together.
2. Unforgettable Memories
My mom has received multiple letters in the mail and she is still able to pull them from a box to show me how many memories they hold. Handwritten letters contain unforgettable memories from life that may have otherwise been forgotten. By physically writing down these memories, families are able to time travel and tell stories to their children, cousins, aunts, and uncles. I will be able to tell my children details about the trips I've taken across country because of the letters I have written to my family. It's something that we can hold on to and pass down through generations.
3. Create Instant Happiness
Over the years I have received cards in the mail during the holiday season and they never fail to light up my face and give me the cheesiest grin. If we remember the feeling of receiving a holiday or birthday card in the mail, we know what it would mean for someone else to receive a handwritten letter. It's a sure sign that you are thinking of them and willing to purchase a stamp and wait anxiously for the three to five days until they pull it from their mailbox with their face lit up just as yours would be.
4. Writing Letters Sparks Creativity
As a Journalism major, I know the importance of sitting down and writing about your day or memories you've made during vacation. Writing sparks a sense of creativity, and the more you write, the easier it will become. Writing letters to someone helps bring back the small details that you might not have remembered otherwise. You're able to describe the color of a dress you saw in the window of a store, or the name of someone that helped you find your way around the city while studying abroad. Writing letters is a great way to get your creativity flowing.
5. Break From Technology
Like most people inhabiting this Earth, I have a love and passion for technology. I have connected with individuals all over the country that have the same hobbies and passions that I do. It's easy to forget that we sometimes need a break from staring at a screen all day. Instead of sending a text or email, write a letter. Whether it's a story that you've been meaning to tell them, or just a letter of appreciation, write it down and mail it. They will enjoy reading your letter while sipping on a cup of coffee and the both of you will benefit by taking a break from technology, even if it's only for an hour or two.
