There
was a time when writing letters was our only means of communicating over long
distances. Women (and men) went to great effort to make those letters beautiful and meaningful, sometimes adding their own lace or drawings to the writing paper, scenting them with lavender or rose, and honing their handwriting skills until the pages looked as if they were filled with delicate lace etchings.
Over the course of the last three months, as I
attempt to wean myself from electronic letters, text messages etc (accept for
business), I have returned to this beautiful lost art. I purchased pretty stationary and note cards,
pulled out my old sealing wax and stamps, made my own address return labels,
bought a new lamp for my writing desk along with pens and pencils, and began
writing to close friends. I forgot how
much I loved doing this; how much I missed it and how very much I used to look
forward to receiving that hand written, personal letter in the mail.
Sadly,
we have stopped writing letters and notes to loved ones, friends, family… and I
firmly believe it is a great loss to our society.
The
proliferation of long distance services has brought the cost of speaking to out
of state
friends via telephone down drastically, giving us yet another
reason to pick up the phone instead of writing. True, most people enjoy the one
on one of a personal conversation. After all, interacting is an important component
of communication. However, I firmly believe that there are times when writing
is better.
Sure, it's nice to hear someone say, "Honey, I love you." But to read it in a letter, knowing someone took the time to write it, makes it much more meaningful. It is permanent. And even if, at some time in the future, they take those words back, you still have a permanent record of it. Once written, you can read it over and over again, and cherish it time after time, knowing that someone cared enough to take the time to write. After all, writing is not an automatic response. It requires thought and concentration -- and effort. People often speak
without thought -- it is, for the most part, an automatic response.
And,
let us not forget the evermore ubiquitous e-mail and Instant Message. Why take
the
time to write a heartfelt letter when you can sit down, put
your thoughts into a few brief
sentences (often incomplete and wrought with abbreviated
language -- <ugh!>) and send it
off into the ether of the internet? People forget that the
gift of time is the most precious gift we can give another and nothing shares
that gift better than a hand written letter with a hand written envelope,
written with love and care.Sure, it's nice to hear someone say, "Honey, I love you." But to read it in a letter, knowing someone took the time to write it, makes it much more meaningful. It is permanent. And even if, at some time in the future, they take those words back, you still have a permanent record of it. Once written, you can read it over and over again, and cherish it time after time, knowing that someone cared enough to take the time to write. After all, writing is not an automatic response. It requires thought and concentration -- and effort. People often speak
without thought -- it is, for the most part, an automatic response.
But, the phone and internet are not the only reasons that people have stopped writing. The greeting card, as well, has usurped letter writing. Is there something meaningful you need to say? Not only "Happy Birthday" and "Get Well Soon" are available on cards. Today you can go to the store (even the grocery store) and buy a card to say just about anything. "I Miss You", and "Sorry we had a disagreement", are just some of the cards available today. Granted, they are nice gestures, but they're still somebody else's words. Who really meant what the card has to say -- the card's author or the sender? Am I to be touched by the sentiment because you passed the aisle with cards on your way to pick up toilet paper? Or even better, that you sat in front of your computer and sent electronically?
I'm sorry to be flippant. I know that most people truly feel what the card is trying to convey. I myself sometimes buy cards like these, but I write a note or letter to say it in my own words as well. Several of my friends still do this and it always touches my heart and keeps me closer to them.
How I long to receive a three page, heart-rending, soppy letter, filled with words carefully chosen and eternal. (OK -- I'd be happy with one page -- I'm not hard to please.) And yes, I have written such letters -- with no reply, thank you very much. Maybe I'm just a hopelessly romantic dreamer, or just downright old-fashioned.
Alas, the advent of the telephone in the late 1800's, cheap long distance services of today and the ever-growing internet have made writing letters a lost art. But modern technology offers us the opportunity to (almost) bring it back. Forget the tedious chore of putting pen to paper, writing and re-writing. Worry no more about your handwriting, spelling and grammar. Welcome the personal computer with word processing, spell checker and grammar checker. If you're the slightest bit creative, you can even buy software to create your own beautiful,heartfelt cards, too.
Gone,
too, are the use of sealing wax, scented papers, or drawers filled with ribbon
tied letters from that special loved one or child. Oh, could we PLEASE bring those back?
Imagine, cards and letters filled with genuine sincerity from both the author and sender -- you. Try it -- you'll like it, and so will your loved ones when they receive it. And who knows, maybe they'll write you back. Won't you feel special then?
Imagine, cards and letters filled with genuine sincerity from both the author and sender -- you. Try it -- you'll like it, and so will your loved ones when they receive it. And who knows, maybe they'll write you back. Won't you feel special then?
