We live in a fast-paced age where the primary form of communication is through the internet. People communicate through e-mail, and they do not typically write letters anymore.
However, even though it is rare these days, some people still do write letters. I have found thirteen reasons why people write letters, and I would like to share them with you.
Why Do People Write Letters?
1. It Adds A Personal Touch
Writing a handwritten letter allows the person to have something personal of yours. If you look back to when handwritten letters were popular, you may remember that these letters seemed personal.
There are specific characteristics of a letter:
- Memorable
- Powerful
- Impactful
- Unique
The above are the characteristics that define the considerable influence of a letter. Writing a letter lets the other person know you are speaking to them and only them.
It sets it apart from every other typed letter that the person receives. It shows the person that you care and that you are an individual who values a more traditional approach.
2. It Demonstrates The Importance
If you want someone to know that you genuinely care about your relationship with the other person, write a lovely letter to them. A handwritten letter can strengthen any type of bond.
These bonds could include:
- Friendship
- Romantic relationship
- Family
- Working relationship
Any relationship can benefit from the care and consideration required to pose a well-written one. Remember when the girl or guy you liked wrote you a letter in high school?
It is the same way as an adult. A handwritten can mean so much.
3. It Gives You Pause
Texting and e-mail are often done from a reactionary standpoint. However, writing a letter will allow you to think about what you are writing.
When you write a letter, you almost need to pause and think about what is important to say. You are writing to give someone something special; it takes effort and time to think about it.
4. It Is Traditional Communication
Some of history’s most tried and true traditions are communication through letter writing.
One of history’s most influential letters was written by Martin Luther King. His “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is regarded as one of the most important documents from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
He stated in this letter that people have a “moral obligation” to break unjust laws and go into battle for what is right instead of waiting for the courts to change the laws.
Some other significant letters throughout history:
- James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
- Marcus Rashford, To All MP’s in Parliament
- Rainer Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
- Tom Courtenay, Dear Tom: Letters from Home
All the above letters serve a very important historical purpose. Saved letters tell a story. When you hand write a letter, you are giving someone something they can keep for a long time, which can be historical.
5. You Can Practice Your Handwriting
You can practice your handwriting or show off your handwriting if you have good penmanship. It is a skill that many people these days do not put into practice enough.
You do not need to write in cursive for your letter to have an impact. However, if your cursive is above average, it would be an excellent time to show off your skills.
There are too few occasions these days to write in this classic form, and if you see a chance, take it.
6. Letters Provide Something Tangible
When you have a letter, it is something you can see and touch. It is not an e-mail on a screen or correspondence through Facebook.
Sometimes letters travel thousands of miles before they arrive in the person’s hands. You can also add a personal touch by spraying a bit of perfume on it to make it more authentic.
When you have something like that in your hand, it is a memorable keepsake and will invoke memories in the person that can last a lifetime.
Giving a letter is better than sending an e-mail because e-mails must be printed if you want to save them, but handwritten letters are right there for you to hold.
7. It Is Not Technology
We depend too much on technology to communicate. Letters offer us a chance to:
- Personalize the message
- Connect with someone
E-mail just does not cut it when it comes to personalization and connection. When you hand write a letter, you lose the block that lies between you, the technology, and the other person.
You do not need to plug something in or turn anything off or on. All you need to write a letter is a pen and paper. It is about creating an authentic connection between you and the other person.
Technology often makes communication impersonal. Writing a letter makes the message mean so much more.
8. It Reconnects You With People
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people stopped going to get-togethers, and communication was done mainly by e-mail, phone, or social media.
Writing a letter to someone is a great way to reconnect with people you have not seen or heard from for a while.
Instead of catching up on Facebook, or another social media platform, letter writing gives you a space that is not just good to catch up, but it is done in a considerate way.
With social media and e-mail, we expect an immediate response. However, with letter writing, the person does not need to respond immediately.
A letter is a considerate way to reach out to someone, especially if the person has not heard from you in a long time.
9. You Will Make An Impression
You can do a lot of cool things to a letter to make it interesting and make a lasting impression:
- Put cute stickers on it
- Use stamps to give it flair
- Try your hand at calligraphy
- Draw pictures to add a little something to it
Children love stickers and stamps. You can use any type of artwork you deem fit. You can use any form of writing to convey emotion.
You can do anything you want to the letter to add a sense of genuineness and character.
10. You Can Send Awesome Gifts
If you would like to make your letter stand out, you can send little gifts in the mail, like coupons or recipes, to the person. Your letter can be a gift if you want to create a special poem.
You can make someone happy by wishing them a happy birthday and sending them a handwritten letter attached to the card.
If there is a long-standing secret recipe in your family for delicious chocolate chip cookies, you can send the person the recipe as a gift.
You need to remember that the letter should honor your relationship with the person and make it an essential part of the gift.
11. It Is Therapeutic For You
Writing a letter can make you feel better. It may be a long overdue break-up letter, and you are finally saying all that needs to be said for you to set yourself free of them.
You could be writing a letter to a family member who hurt you deeply, and you need to get your emotions out and onto paper.
You can even write a pretend letter, rip it up, and throw it away. It will help you the way an extended therapy session does. Anything that will allow you to express yourself in a meaningful way.
Before you send any angry or discontented letter, review it one more time to ensure it is something you want to send.
12. You Get To Be Creative
There are so many different types of stationary out there you can use when you write a letter. You get to be as artistic as you want. Some colors that look great for letter writing:
- Soft pink
- Lilac Purple
- Turquoise
- Peach
Lovely pastels will make a statement. Some people say that they write letters to stand out and be unique. However, many people write letters to show off their lovely stationery.
13. It Makes People Happy
People love getting letters in the mail because it rarely ever happens. Kids especially get excited to open up a letter from a relative or a friend.
You can spot the sparkle in their eyes when they read something written explicitly for them. You can make a child’s day by sending them a letter.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why Gen Z is so soft, why TV still exists, and why pride is a sin.
Conclusion
Letters are a traditional way to communicate with people, showing the time and effort you spent on them. You can use pretty stationery in any color with any design to express your creative nature.
When you write a letter, you send a piece of yourself in an envelope. See it as a way to practice your penmanship or just a way to reconnect; letter writing is still important.