Since coming to college, an old-fashioned nuisance has become my way of really staying connected with those I left behind. To me, letter writing was just a hassle. Why waste time writing a note when you could just as easily shoot a text? Sure, text messages, phone calls, and Skype are great, easy ways to keep in touch with someone, but to me, taking the time to send a handwritten note goes a thousand miles (literally). Here are some tips to get you started on one of the most intimate ways of long distance communication.
1. Buy Cute Stationary- I become so much more motivated to write when I know my thoughts are going to be transposed onto a cute notecard. I can spend hours in stores looking for the cutest stationary to write on. From simple hello notes to notes of gratitude, cute notecards make writing letters ten times more fun. Postcards are a great way to communicate a message as well. If you don’t know what to get, I am a big fan of Rifle Paper Company, and stores like Paper Source can give you hundreds of options.
2. Find a Reason to Write, MAKE a Reason to Write- There are a million different reasons you could take the time to write someone. I have written my friends just to say how much I miss them or to let them know they are on my mind. I write thank you notes for big gift items or just because someone did something little for me. Writing thank you notes is a great way to show how appreciative you really are. I’ve recently written notes just to fill people in on how my life is going. You could write about anything! When people receive your letter in the mail, they will be happy, no matter what the note says.
3. Take the Time- One of the biggest reasons writing letters is almost unheard of nowadays is because we live in a fast-paced world, a world where everything feels the need to be relayed the split-second it happens. When you take time out of your day to sit down and write to someone, the message you are crafting gains so much more meaning. I’m not suggesting you prioritize writing a letter over school work, but when you have the time, use it to make someone’s day. It might be hard at first, but, ultimately, the time you take will improve your day and someone else’s.
4. Why Letter Writing Matters-The other day, I wrote a letter to my friend. She was going through a rough patch, and I wanted to let her know I was thinking about her. When she got the letter, she called me right away. In tears, she told me how the letter had made her week. Seeing my handwriting, she said, made it even better. I could have expressed the same message I wrote out to her over text, but it would not have had the same meaning. The time I took showed that I really care and gave my friend something physical to hold on to.
Receiving a handwritten letter is sure to make anyone’s day, and if I can spread happiness and joy, I’m going to try my best to do just that. So, take the time and write someone a letter. It’s sure to make their day.