My dear reader,
Last week, I handed a hand-written letter to a friend. I hadn't written it for any particular reason. It wasn't her birthday or an anniversary. She wasn't sick. Nothing terrible had happened in her life. I didn't have some awful news I had to tell her. I wrote her letter for no other reason than her friendship.
When I handed it to her, she looked a little shocked. I don't think she knew whether to be scared or delighted. It was this moment of shock that made me laugh before I realized how odd it must be to have a letter thrust in your hand out of the blue, no reason given. I realized quite suddenly that, on the rare occasions I do receive letters, there is always a reason like a birthday or a "get well soon" wish. Hardly ever does someone walk up to me and hand me a letter with no explanation. I too would have looked shocked and confused.
Maybe (mostly in order to decrease the shock and awe factor of my letters), we should reawaken the art of letter writing. I don't mean writing letters to celebrate or give condolences – though we should write then, too. I mean writing just for the sake of writing or to simply give a random dose of encouragement.
Here are five reasons for random letter writing:
1. It's Thoughtful.
The simple act of writing an entire letter out by hand inevitably makes you think harder about what is actually being said. It makes you double-check your words and reread your sentences. Letter writing is harder than typing up a page and clicking a button to send it off. Letter writing takes time and effort and stamps and paper. It makes you put more thought into the words themselves.
2. It's Random.
Even though the random letters may be a little confusing at first, they are, in the end, an encouragement. It means a lot to people when you put in that much effort without any obligation or duty behind it. It is a random and unasked act of kindness which is often the most effective kind.
3. It's Personal.
I have nothing against emails or texts. Trust me, I am more than grateful for them. But there is a big difference between reading something on a screen and holding a piece of paper in your hand and reading someone's handwriting.
4. It's Lasting.
When I walk into most of my friend's rooms, they usually have the typical decorations and quotes and posters hanging on the wall, but they almost always have letters from friends and family hanging right beside them. In other words, we keep letters, and we remember them. Emails slip lower and lower in the inbox until they finally end up in the trash. You can't pin up emails on the wall.
5. It's Beautiful.
Whether or not you like art or have pretty handwriting, every letter I receive has artwork--little doodles, or smiley faces, or even just a scribble on the side to get the pen working again. These are pieces of art which are impossible without pen and paper. And, for those of us who do like art, they are a great way to make everything fancier than necessary.
