Long before the emergence of social media, the Internet, television or radio, the way people communicated was through handwritten letters. People had no other choice than to pull out a pen and a sheet of paper to write down their messages. It would take days, sometimes weeks, for the other person to reply. As technology has significantly advanced, the age of handwritten letters is behind us. We have smartphones, computers and other devices to instantly deliver our messages.
Of course, we know letters are an extremely outdated form of communication. Nowadays, who would want to dedicate minutes or hours writing a letter when they can whip out their phone and type a text within seconds? Why spend money on stamps and envelopes, let alone trips to OfficeMax or the post office to buy the supplies you need? Isn't that counterproductive?
Look, I know it's 2018, so I understand that it's easier to check your direct messages on Twitter than to go outside and open your actual mailbox. However, despite the extra work that goes into sending physical letters, they are still pretty cool. After all, letters are still romanticized in books and movies. We've all swooned watching "Dear John" or "Letters to Juliet," wishing the man of our dreams would send us a sweet message instead of a "you up?" text at 3 a.m. (On second thought, maybe we were just secretly wishing to become Amanda Seyfried.)
Nevertheless, although mailing letters may be a slow process, it is the most personal way to send a message. Plus, if you have some colorful paper or funky pens nearby, you can get creative with decorating your letters or the envelope.
If you're feeling nostalgic, letters are the perfect way to look back on old memories. You don't keep texts forever, you don't even keep your phone forever! But you can keep a letter forever, tucked away neatly in a box or drawer. It's a way to see what things were important to you during that time. The conversation between you and the other person reveals what you were doing day-to-day, what your goals and fears were and who you were spending time with.
These points are coming from my personal experience. For the last two years, I have written letters to my best friend from home on a weekly basis. We don't text or post on social media every day, so the letters keep us updated on each other's lives. Since the letters are longer than a text would be, we go more in depth about how school is going and our weekend plans. Sure, we cant add cute emojis or gifs, but we can doodle a heart or smiley face at the end of a sentence.
Honestly, it's basically the same thing.
Still not convinced? That's fine, but try writing a letter to a friend and see how good it makes them feel. If I don't have the power to change your mind, maybe the smile on their face will.
