It’s been weeks since I’ve blogged and now I’m back! A few weeks ago I moved into a new apartment (“The Treehouse” we affectionately call it, for it’s an adorable second-story place enclosed in trees. But that’s a post for another day.) and I have not had internet. I’ll spare you the details of why it took this long to receive our service, but I do want to share how it changed my routine. In these weeks I’ve made my new place feel clean and cozy, finding new spots for all of my belongings and helping my kitty adjust happily. I’ve finished many magazines and a book. I do love the internet, do not misunderstand that, but there is one habit that I will always cherish that requires no high-speed anything: handwriting and mailing letters.
There is something so special about the hand-written letter. The way your heart jumps when you see a personalized envelope in your mail box you just can’t wait to tear open. The individualization of every person’s unique handwriting. Without hesitation I can identify letters from my most frequent pen pals – grandma, Aunt Linda, Mom and Milly (my friend in Germany). Handwriting is so beautiful and personal. It’s a little bit of them that has travelled to me. I love opening and reading the letters – what do they have to say? What card did they use? And then the ability to display the hand-sent mail on my fridge or kitchen counter for days.
Not only is the receiving end fun and personalized, but I love every aspect of sending a letter too. Taking the time to be still and write a letter is an act of love in my eyes. It shows how I think and care about them. E-mail can be personal and touching when we put our hearts into memos, yes, but the extra steps to write, stamp and address a letter says an extra something. Even the act of writing is enjoyable to me – it has a way of calming me, connecting me to the recipient, and giving me a moment to express and share my inner thoughts with someone close. It’s almost a health-giving act on my end, as much as it is a source of joy on the recipients end. Then there is the waiting period – when will they receive my mail? think they got it today?! And the feeling of joy in knowing you will brighten someone’s day this week.
Each week for 7 years now, my grandma and I have managed to mail letters back. We do not have a set schedule or routine. Just when I receive one… I write back. And vice versa. I’ve been away at college, living here in NJ and even away in Rome, and we’ve still managed to write. It keeps us connected despite the distances geographically (and technologically). I love these letters and I’ve kept them. I do not know exactly what I will do with them. But I do know I will always see the beauty in them and smile whenever I come across them now and always.
So maybe it’s the artist or lover of words in me that draws me to the hand-written note. But, I don’t believe so. When was the last time you used snail mail? Give it a try, see how it makes you feel.
