An Ode to Writing Letters

It was only a few weeks ago. Returning home, I opened my mailbox and out fell numerous leaflets, two business letters and bills, and a magazine I always forget to unsubscribe to. Annoyed, I bent down to pick up the pile, when suddenly another envelope emerged underneath. It was off-white, thick, with an unknown stamp, and my address written in very familiar handwriting on it. I was instantly taken over by surprise, excitement and joy, with all three emotions rushing through me simultaneously. I went into my flat, sat on the bed, and started to read the letter. It was from a friend that recently moved away, and who I miss dearly. In each written word, I could hear her voice, telling me about the recent days in her new home, ending with her missing me. After I shed some love-filled tears, I went out, came back with beautiful stationery, and sat down to write back to her, filled with giddiness and joy.   

“I’ll write to you. A super-long letter, like in an old-fashioned novel” 
― Haruki Murakami, After Dark

We are living in a world of digital communication. In our hectic, fast paced society, writing letters is not necessary as there are faster, cheaper, and easier ways to communicate. However, texts or mails are not a substitute for written, personal letters. These are special and meaningful, especially if we chose them over all the other technologies we have at our disposal. 

The virtue of letter-writing

Writing a letter is a romantic process, it’s about dedicating time to somebody. It is an ‘effort’ that it takes time and thought. Thus, receiving a letter is a sign of being loved, and being known on a piece of paper. Someone is out there, thinking of you and only you in that very moment of composing the letter. A letter is private and out of the spotlight, just a message from the writer to the recipient, a dialogue between two people, a symbol of an authentic connection. A letter reflects your personal aesthetics, more than any text or email ever could. Every handwriting style is unique, thus special, no matter how beautiful or crooked it is. Each letter you write gives you options. hich paper? Which pen? Which envelope? Maybe you feel like adding a cliché touch of your perfume, or there is the accidental coffee or red wine stain. All is an expression of your very own, unique personality.

Letters are a mirror of the soul, and bluntly echo the emotional state of the writer, describing what you have experienced, enriched with all the recent memories and emotions still alive, not blurred or weakened through years that have passed or new memories that have replaced them. The writing is pure and true. Letters are tangible memories and we keep them like a treasure, they’re from the past, from people who we have crossed paths with or who have touched us,. And from those that are no longer with us, the words written on the pages are like a proof that, they have once upon a time been with us. Letters make us sentimental, happy, sad and maybe even angry. They evoke feelings and take us back to former times, like a song we once cherished, or a smell that defined our childhood.

The ritual of letter-writing

There are many rituals that can revolve around letters. Writing a letter you will never post to let go of negative feelings, writing a letter to a person you lost to burn it to find peace. Writing yourself a letter from your future self. 

But the ritual of writing itself is so special. The environment is important, whether you write at your kitchen table, in bed, or at your desk. Prepare your writing spot, put out your stationery, your fountain-pen, a glass of red wine, or cup coffee to go with it. Maybe you dedicate a special hour of the week just to letter writing. Take your time and make sure there will be no interruptions or distractions. Time to focus your thoughts only on what will fill your letter. With the plain sheet before you, take the pen, and when those magical first words start appearing on the page, the world shuts out, and you immerse in your writing. 

It requires thought. Before you write, you need time to think what you want to say, and how. Time to process and form your thoughts, then carefully select and arrange the words, sculpting the sentences, paragraphs, line by line. A letter, once finished, is fully deliberate and communicating exactly what you want to say. Letter-writing is a creative writing exercise, a space where thoughts get to evolve, where ideas start to live. 

After you finished your letter and signed it with your very name, you carefully fold the paper, put it in an envelope and seal it. Like on a holy mission, you walk to the postbox, open the lid, and let it slide in. Off they go, your precious words. 

So maybe today, think about a person that is important to you and start writing. Maybe the first letter will be shaky, with mistakes, not perfectly composed or written, maybe you consider your words not grave enough. It doesn’t matter. The one receiving the letter will surely be deeply touched.