I found a letter on my desk, hidden between a few books.  My younger daughter must have placed it there before she left on a month long science adventure to Greenland (a wonderful opportunity with the NSF, while it still exists, for chosen high school students). The letter was such a sweet surprise and made me so happy to open it, read it, and carry it with me to help when I miss her. I’m rendered oh so sentimental as I review her characteristic loopy a’s and the pinpoint exactness of her dotted i’s.  It makes me feel close to her, even though she is so very far away. It reminded me how seldom we all write letters these days with how convenient it is to text and e-mail. But letters have a historic tradition and offer multiple benefits to both the writer as well as the receiver.

Studies have revealed an association between writing by hand and brain development, increasing neural activity more than typing can.  (This is why it is often better to handwrite things you are trying to learn.) When you write in your own hand, you are more reflective and your words stay stored in your memory.  Letter writing requires sensory integration and visual spatial skills, causing us to think more holistically. Research also shows letter writing, especially when giving thanks or appreciation to someone, actually boosts our mood.  With letters, we can say exactly what we want to say, as we tend to take our time and be more selective in our word choice. It also enhances our sense of intimacy and connection to the people we write to. It is much harder to multi-task while writing a letter, so chances are you will be more focused and give it your full intention, noticing how it looks as well as how it sounds.

For the receiver, a letter carries a lot of weight.  It indicates that someone took the time to take pen to paper, address a letter, affix a stamp and mail it.  There is an authentic feel that has a timeless essence. Compared to a text or e-mail, letters give us something to hold on to and reflect on for years to come.  When someone writes you a letter, you know that you are important to them and the words are more powerful as a result. It is by far more personal and meaningful.  And if you are like me, you have a special box where you place the cards and letters that you cherish. I can rarely think of a time when I placed an e-mail or text in the box!

And then there are the letters you can write, but choose to never send.  Regardless of what you do with it, the act of writing a letter is almost always cathartic.  It helps you get clarity about what you think and feel, vent your emotions, and clarify what is most important to you.  In this way, it can actually help you prepare for a conversation that may be challenging, adjusting your words to express yourself in the most effective way.  

There is something sacred about communicating in the time honored way that generations before us once did. Whether it was a letter from a family member from across the ocean, a love letter to a soldier, or words of encouragement during dark times, letters capture our attention and our imagination.  They are romantic in the broadest sense and give us the smell, the touch, and the artistic sense of someone dear. And from my experience in trying to reach my daughter who is ever so close to the North Pole, if you are trying to reach Santa, you are best off writing a letter.  The internet is not very reliable in the Arctic Circle! Not a lot of bandwith up there.