This post was last updated on July 5th, 2022 at 09:13 am
Besides obsessing over how to make the juiciest turkey possible, one of my Thanksgiving traditions is to write a letter to my friend Stan, whom I met during my days as a newspaper editor. He’s not big on email, and I’m glad for that. This past Thanksgiving, I considered how rewarding it was to put thoughts on paper to my good friend. That led to my wondering, why don’t I write letters to other friends and relatives throughout the year?
Letter writing is a dying art, while email and text messaging now dominate written communications. I write a lot of emails (not so much texting), yet the feeling I get after composing and sending a letter is unlike anything I experience after sending an email. It’s immensely satisfying. So, I’ve decided to write more letters.
When writing a letter, it’s just me, my pen, and paper. There are no notifications to check, no texts begging for a response, and no funny videos to “like.” There are, in other words, no distractions. Letter writing invites solitude and reflection. It’s an intentional, physical task that promotes a genuine connection with someone else.
As a writer, I’m also inspired by the fact that many great authors were also prolific letter writers: C.S. Lewis, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell and Franz Kafka, to name a few.
The frugalmatic side of letter writing
And the more I think about letter writing, the more I realize just how frugalmatic it is. There is the direct benefit: the communication with someone. Less obvious are several indirect benefits. Writing letters helps build relationships. The letter writer shows thoughtfulness simply by virtue of composing words on a page, addressing an envelope, and sending it. In this context, writing a multiple-page letter is worth, perhaps, several hundred text messages.
Also, unlike text messages, a letter isn’t fleeting. It’s a lasting testament to the relationship between the writer and letter recipient.
Writing a letter also boosts brain function. Studies show handwriting is important for children’s cognitive development, especially reading skills. So it should be no surprise that studies have also found cognitive and emotional benefits for adults who practice handwriting.
A Kent State University associate professor, Steve Toepfer, found in a 2007 study that letter writing promoted mental well-being. He recruited 219 undergraduate students for his experiment. One group of students wrote letters of gratitude to anyone they wanted during a six-week period, while the other group didn’t write a letter.
“The more letter writing people did, the more they improved significantly on happiness and life satisfaction,” Toepfer explained.
For the experiment, students spent 15 to 20 minutes writing each letter.
That’s a relatively small time investment for a relatively large emotional benefit.
A boost for the U.S. Postal Service
Finally, writing letters helps the U.S. Postal Service. You’ve probably heard that the Postal Service has struggled to balance its budget, having lost $69 billion over the past 11 years.
If it’s been a long time since you wrote a letter, you’re not alone. First class mail volume has declined by nearly 50% since 2001 and is now at 1978 levels.
Despite these declines, the Postal Service provides a lifeline of sorts for many people, especially those living in rural areas lacking access to private delivery services. Whenever you buy a postage stamp, you’re making a statement that this institution matters.
More reasons to write letters
There are many more reasons to write letters. Here are a few more offered by the Write_On campaign, a group that promotes letter writing:
- To leave a legacy—make it really good and your letter may live longer than you.
- To replace an old habit with a new one. Every time you think of biting your nails (for example), write a letter instead!
- To send a cheer up message—a note to a friend who has had a tough go of it lately.
- To write a company who made a product you like.
A resolution to write more letters
One of my New Year’s resolutions—yes, I do them—is to write one letter a month in 2021. That’s a doable amount for me. I invite you to join me in writing more letters this year. I’ll revisit this topic in June and then in December again. Let’s do it together.
Is there someone in your life you’d like to reconnect with? Or, is there someone in your life with whom you primarily communicate by text or social media? Writing a letter to someone you only contact by text or social media might add substance to the relationship.
It doesn’t really matter why you want to write—the point is to write. Pick up a pen and paper and write. Dust off the old address book, buy some Forever stamps, and send that letter. I’m guessing you’ll feel good afterward. I know I did after writing my friend Stan.