Are Handwritten Letters A Lost Art?

It’s always a little exciting to get a piece of mail with your name on it that’s not a bill. Especially if that piece of mail happens to be a letter from someone you love.

But in the day of email, texting, and social media, handwritten, personal letters aren’t all that common. After all, it seems like a waste when we can talk to almost anyone in the world with just a couple clicks.

But has this beautiful art really lost its place in the world?

What Made Letter Writing So Important?

Even after the invention of the telegram and the telephone, letters were still the most common way to get in touch with someone far away. This was due to the fact that you didn’t have to worry about your word count, or being able to connect with them through the phone lines.

Letters could be sent almost anywhere in the world as long as you had enough postage. They could be treasured and reread over and over.

They were personal and allowed people to share thoughts with others that they may not have been brave enough to say out loud.

The Rise Of Technology And The Downfall Of Handwriting

In the years since computers have become a primary form a of communication, writing letters to your loved ones has all but gone out of style.

And why wouldn’t it? With the ability to connect with people in almost every part of the world without all the extra steps, who wants to go through the work of mailing a letter? Even in classrooms now, assignments are done on tablets and turned in through e-mail. And some schools don’t even teach cursive anymore.

People often prefer ease of typing out a quick text to writing a letter with pen and paper because you can send and receive a text almost instantaneously.

Advantages Of Technology

When you write on a computer or phone, you can rearrange words. If you mess up, all you have to do is hit backspace. If you change you mind about saying something, you can delete it with just a couple clicks.

Plus, thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to share your words with others. (Like I do here.)

Advantages Of Pen And Paper

Handwritten letters are more personal than anything that you can type out on a computer. Your words in your handwriting are powerful and raw.

Plus, you don’t need a battery or electrical outlet to power a piece of paper, so you can write anywhere.

It’s also a great way to practice fine motor skills. (Even adults need those.)

Getting Back To Our Roots

There’s something special about writing with pen and paper, a feeling so to speak, that is like no other. So, even if you aren’t usually the type to break out the butterfly stationary: send a handwritten letter to a friend once in awhile and maybe they’ll write one back.