Writing letters why it is so good…
When I first moved away from home at the age of 18. It was in the days when no one I knew, owned a mobile
phone. I had to use the local phone-box around the corner. And there was always a queue. If you were in there longer than about; 10 minutes, you would get a knock on the window and someone shouting. “Are you going to be much longer?” Meaning – time’s up buddy, hop it!!
So I use to be a big letter writer. And it really took off, when later at the age of 20 I went to University. Lots of my good friends had gone abroad and we corresponded via post.
I use to write pages and pages to my friends and receive the same. The joy of receiving an envelope and immediately recognising the handwriting was fantastic. You just couldn’t wait to open it and read the following installments to adventures that had been mentioned in their previous letter.
I use to go to my local pub, order a pint and just sit there scribbling away. The locals always thought I was bonkers. But they soon got to know me with my pen and paper at the ready, and use to pull a pint for me as I walked in!
Receiving letters is such a wonderful thing. You get to know the quirks in people’s handwriting and the ways an individual signs off. They really are a little slice of someone’s personality, reserved just for you. And I still have most of the letters I received from friends. It’s great having a little read over the odd one from time to time. And I love the fact that we have documented little parts of our lives.
When writing fun letters to friends and loved ones, it creates a calmness, mindfulness, and creativity within. There are no screens, no predetermined fonts, just you, a pen and paper. It means that you can verbalise what you want, you can consider what you write or just let go and blurt it all out. I know my friends use to say that my letters were like having me in the room. I would write as I speak, tangents and all. You also get a great sense of satisfaction once that envelope is addressed. Knowing that, whoever receives it, will be pleased and know you care.
I really can see why I get so much joy from receiving letters and why others do too. So get writing. Now is a time where people need that lovely connection. So go on, get pen to paper. Make someone smile. And who knows you might start a new – ‘old’ trend!