I Love Letters. [And a Simple Challenge]
“I probably don’t have the eloquence or verbiage to respond with a similar length of email…” – Part of a response to an e-mail I wrote. (The remainder of the response was beautiful but personal.)
My Long Love Affair with Letters: I’ve always loved letters, getting them and receiving them. As kids, my sister and I exchanged letters with our cousins updating them on our “Spy Club” findings, things like how many times our neighbors left their house and whether their kids were allowed to come out and play.
When our immediate family moved to Florida when I was about 12, I sent letters back and forth to friends in New Jersey updating them on my life and hearing about theirs.
Over time, with the exception of an occasional heartfelt card, the letters turned into emails, many of which I still consider letters because of the length and direct communication between two people. In college, I sent e-mails home to my parents with updates. I assume they responded but cannot specifically recall the responses.
Once out in the working world, I sent e-mails to friends to pass the work day, covering such important topics as who we were dating or crushing on and…yeah, mostly who we dating or crushing on and sometimes how much trouble we were having focusing on work.
When traveling solo in Asia last year, I received an unexpected e-mail from a friend just checking in and discussing something I had blogged about, Angkor Wat. It made my day. I’m good at and enjoy solo-travel but knowing your still thought of is a damn good feeling.
I received some e-mails and messages in response to this Nomad List blog from other attorneys and law students inclined towards travel or a non-traditional career path. They were all kind and completely unexpected and refreshing in a field that does not always look kindly upon taking the road less traveled. (I can see some traditional lawyers looking at the road less traveled and saying “too inefficient, too risky, and not practical,” and taking the road straight to partnership)
I also like writing letters, to say “hi,” to accompany a gift or return of something borrowed, or express something. Writing allows me the space to process and attempt to articulate thoughts and feelings, good and bad, that I struggle to convey on-the-spot during a verbal conversation.
I’m especially prone to writing e-mails at the conclusion of a romantic relationship. I think that’s pretty common. Therapists recommend writing out thoughts in mock letters to people but I actually send them. Because YOLO and it does help me move on. Out of my brain and into your inbox.
That Special Feeling: The thrill of getting a letter, whether electronic or hard-copy, is still one of life’s great little feelings for me. Someone is thinking of you! You’re about to have at least five minutes of reading something interesting! I just love it. Emails and letters tend to be longer, more detailed, more personal than texts and so to me, they can actually help develop friendships and foster a sense of connection where text often cannot. (Be-tee-dubs: I’m talking about personal e-mails, not work ones)
Challenge: Write someone, anyone, a letter, paper or e-mail for any reason or no reason at all. Bonus points if you’re a traveler writing to someone back home or if you’re sending the letter to a traveler.
Random Additional Thought: As much as I love letters, I’ve never received a LOVE letter. Maybe 2018 will be the year! Hint, hint to anyone I date who comes across this during a background check. But NOT a hint, hint to strangers. 🙂
Anyone else remember Post Secret, the ultimate letter collection:
