The Importance of the Handwritten Letter

Letter writing is nearly extinct in our society today. It's been readily replaced by a vast array of instant communicative technology. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy being able to pick up the phone and talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime, but I don't like knowing that most hand written communication is brushed aside because of it. There once was a day when the letter was king, but now I'm afraid its quite the pauper. Doesn't that make writing a letter in this day and age so much more personal and thoughtful? Think about it. Even receiving an invitation in the mail is exciting now days. (Maybe its just me, but I think any kind of hand addressed envelope is exciting!)

My parents always talk about rereading all the old love letters they have stored away. They lived a couple of hours apart and had to write letters most of the time because long distance calls were so expensive. My husband and I have a handful of handwritten cards given on special occasions, but nothing like the day to day thoughts and emotions like my parents have. I know my grandparents have even more treasured letters stored away somewhere. Handwriting is so personal and is especially treasured when the author has passed. What will our generation leave behind once we're gone? A long string of rather meaningless data floating around in cyberspace? It just seems like we ought to keep the tradition of hand writing our thoughts and stories to one another alive. Its such a richer heritage than a screen full of half conversations. Either way, I for one am trying to incorporate letters back into my daily life.

Do you write letters very often? Why or why not?


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