We live in a technology-driven world where emails, tweets, and text messages are lauded as the natural evolution of communication.
Accessibility and time are the key factors making electronic communication so popular.
I, too, love that I can text my kids anytime from anywhere and almost immediately receive a message back assuring me that all is well. These forms of communication cost next to nothing, are easy to write, and are auto-corrected. Our thoughts, feelings, and emotions are simplified through the use of acronyms, abbreviations, and emoticons.
We’ve done away with stamps and stationary and trips to the post office. We’ve “upgraded.” But by over-
riding this time-honored tradition, we are in danger of losing the deeply enriching and fulfilling process of
composing, sending, and receiving a handwritten letter.
The process of writing letters does take some time. We must first connect with the thoughts, feelings, and exper-iences we wish to convey and then transfer them onto paper. Gathering our thoughts is a cathartic process that aids in our psychological and emotional wellbeing. The unique and imperfect scrawl of our handwriting is our thumbprint.
During times of war, the importance of letter-writing was second only to food. The deep emotional power these letters contained was height-ened by the fear of loss. Letters to servicemen and women were crucial to their well-being. This connection to home and loved ones gave them the strength and courage to endure.
The most ardent of love letters emerged due to a couple’s separation, whether by war or when social etiquette forbade a public meeting or display of affection. Absence, then, truly did make the heart grow fonder, spurring the writers to compose their most heartfelt sentiments.
Through the years, hand-written letters have been carefully collected, documented, and archived. They have kept their historic value. Whether preserved inside a museum or tucked away in a shoebox, these fingerprints tell unique stories that stir one’s memories, emotions, curiosity, and imagination.
I have kept many of my mother’s handwritten letters, cards, and recipes. I still marvel at her beautiful penmanship. I often run my fingers over her words. These handwritten pages have given me the gift of a deeper connection to her although she has been gone for many years.
Indulging in this artform gives us all a creative way to express our deeper feelings. Through application, we preserve this meaningful tradition for generations to come.
