2011: The Year of the Written Letter

I’ve decided that 2011 shall be the year of the written letter in my household. I used to write cards and letters frequently because I enjoyed crafting special correspondence reminding friends and family they are loved and thought of and also because I loved the art of writing itself. Somewhere along the way I abandoned this pursuit as email became widespread in the mid 90s and evite.com came on board to offer electronic invitations.

I think there is something of value in hand written letters. I lost this ‘something’ by turning my back on letter writing and I aim to pull it back into my life in 2011. What I look to gain:

1. A sort of quiet peace as the pace of conversation must ebb and flow with the postal schedule.

2. A sense of directed thoughtfulness as each letter represents time focused on specific friends and family.

3. A reconnection with the physical pleasures of writing: choosing beautiful papers and writing instruments (I collect Italian glass pens among others), decorating the envelope, etc.

4. The joyful anticipation of postal delivery, knowing that a letter may be waiting for me in return. Receiving mail might be pleasurable again instead of just the dreary work of sorting through ho-hum bills, netflix movies and advertising.

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