3.12.2010

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

I've always loved letters.

It is funny how much a thing of the past they have become. I wonder if kids are even taught how to write a letter in school anymore [hmm... I will be sure to teach any children in my life this art] I bet people think of letters as a thing of Jane Austen's time, not today. Today we have email, facebook, twitter, word documents even. They are instant and fast. We can get our words to the other person quickly. Why would anyone ever take the time to sit down and write a note by hand?

Let me tell you why you should sit down and write a letter to someone you love:

Letters are lovely
Letters are words into a person's heart
Letters are thoughtful and kind
Letters have a way of unlocking your soul.

[Warning, this next part may be a bit of a NEWS FLASH to some of you]

Last night I came home from a long day of work to find an envelope waiting for me. It wasn't a bill or party invitation-- it was a letter from South Africa! I have been dating the sweetest boy who lives in South Africa for the past four months. I was not expecting anything from him so this was the most wonderful surprise. He is very thoughtful! And has the most beautiful way with words. I crawled into bed and opened the letter. Dried rose petals fell out as I pulled out the paper... I was transported into a world where Stefan and I don't live thousands of miles away, a place where we are close in heart and spirit. It is a precious gift!

Reading a letter is so much different than reading an email. Seeing the person's hand writing, knowing they touched that piece of paper. You can hold it in your hand, it is almost as if the person were there in the room with you. Emails don't have that power or grace. We use them for work as much as we use them for pleasure. They are pretty standard. Times New Roman Font, in black on a white background. We all use them and honestly, I love email too-- but there is nothing so charming nor so lovely as a hand writen note. Even between two friends letters are wonderful. I have a friend who lives less than 15 miles away and we still send letters to each other.

Call me a hopeless romantic, but I think letters are charming and kind, warm and endearing, and just about the sweetest gift you can give. And for me the sweetest gift Stefan can give me are his words.