In today's digital age, there's something special about receiving a letter in the mail. As opposed to receiving an email or a text, where someone can take out their phone, type the message, input the name quickly and push "send", receiving a letter implies the person took time and thought to create and send it. It means that the person took the time to buy or create the stationery, write out the letter in their own handwriting, find out the address, buy a stamp and actually put it into the mailbox.
It also suggests that the letter took some thought. In today's world, when writing on a computer or my phone I find myself "word vomiting", meaning I type my thoughts out as quickly as possible knowing that I will be able to easily edit and revise later on. When I write a handwritten letter, I must sit and think about what I want to write before writing because I only have one chance to write out the message (unless I throw it away or scratch it out and start over again). Writing handwritten letters is an exercise in "thinking before acting", something that I take for granted in our world full of technology. I love giving and receiving "snail mail" because of the time and thought that goes into it.
I spent this last week in Israel for work so I knew I would have some time in airports and on planes. I hunted down ten of my friends addresses, brought some stationery along and completed number three of 101 by writing ten letters to friends. By writing these letters I realized I want to make a practice out of sending handwritten letters more frequently. I really enjoy the act of writing them and like the intention I put into the action. My goal will be to send one handwritten letter a month, I hope I will actually remember to do it!
No comments:
Post a Comment