A Letter is Better

When was the last time you took a pen and some paper, or maybe a pretty note card, and wrote someone a letter? Stuck it in an envelope, put a stamp on it, and thought about how the recipient's face would light up in a couple days when it showed up in their mailbox?
With all of today's "immediate" methods of communication, writing a letter is becoming a lost art. Why compose something that won't arrive for 1-3 days when we can send a text or e-mail message that's instantly available? Well, allow me to tell you.
A hand-written card or letter is like a gift, a heart-felt piece of yourself that you create for someone you care about. It involves your time, thought, preparation, and expense. Those things alone tell the receivers they are special--before they've read a word.
Saying "I don't have time" is probably the #1 reason many people don't write anymore. I say that's baloney! We have time for TV, video games, sports, Facebook, shopping--making time is the difference. We all have free time and make the choice on how we spend it. I have a big box and full scrapbook of handwritten letters from soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen that I've received over the past five years. If they can make time in a war zone to write to someone they've never even met, how can we not have time for the important people in our lives??
I have saved hundreds of letters over the years, many from those dear to me who are no longer with us. Just looking at the penmanship on them can bring back so many wonderful memories, and the words convey the personality that I loved. These letters are treasures, still with me long after the deleted e-mail or text message are gone.
This isn't meant to be a lecture or guilt trip. (though the girls will probably say it sounds like that) I hope it will be encouragement for anyone missing out on how special personal correspondence can be. So buy some stamps and pick up a pen--you just might start a trend.