#6 Write A Letter Instead of An Email

Everyone loves to get mail, or at least I know I do. So, one of my goals was to make sure I sat down and wrote a letter. It’s a small gesture and not that exciting, but it reminded me of those days before I could just hop on a computer and jot a few lines to someone thousands of miles away.

Perhaps it’s the writer in me, but there’s something different between typing and actually writing. An email, no matter what it might hold, has a certain detachment to it. I’m sure I’ve written heartfelt emails with tons of emotion poured in, but it doesn’t feel the same as your hand cramping up after four pages of writing. There’s a physical connection with writing a letter, it’s something you can touch and see some personality shine through. A smiley face in an email can’t really compare to a persons handwriting or signature.

The letter I wrote wasn’t anything special. It was to one of my friends who lives on the East Coast. We talk usually once every week or two, so it’s not as though I hadn’t talked to her in a while. When I talked to her after the letter was sent, but before she had received it, I probably talked about many of the things I had already included in the letter. However, I think a person is more likely to bare their soul on a piece of paper rather than over the phone or in an email. There’s something more tangible about that letter.
I think I will end up writing more letters as a result. Most of my friends do not live in the area, and with many our only contact is in Facebook comments or random three line emails. It would be nice to exchange something more, something with more connection.