Welcome all!
Letter writing is what I perceive as an art, a form of communication that goes ways beyond a text message or email for multiple reasons. But alas… it is a dying art. While technology and social media have provided various forms of contact, a hand-written, heartfelt letter, to whomever it may be given to, holds an undeniable sense of sentiment and effort. Many (along with myself) question how/why this holds truth, and the benefits a hand-written letter provides as opposed to a convenient email or text. As I continue this practice, I find myself diving deeper into this inquiry, understanding gradually the difference a change in communication can make.
I have been fortunate enough to have grown up in a household that encouraged the value of keeping in touch with friends & family whether they were a town over, or lived across the country. The elements of writing, sending, and receiving letters is a practice that my mother and father made a family tradition, as when it was someone’s birthday- a letter was carefully written and sent out promptly. If an old friend from the West Coast (residing in PA) reached out with a postcard and scribbled updates on the blank space of it, we would in turn send tea bags, stickers, and our responses/updates that would then be enveloped up, prolonging the stream of communication. I cherish every letter, especially the postcards which remind me of the beautiful wonders of nature and the decor it offers.
So, from having this not only be a practice in my life, but a priority as well, I am interested in many aspects of letter writing. I’d have to say that based on my experience, I have a love for pen-pal writing. This includes sending updates, postcards, little gifts or sentiments, and more. While many forms of letter writing serve as artifacts for historical, informative, reflective, etc., I am particularly interested in exploring/sharing cultures and relations through these means. My family has been accustomed to several pen pals over the years, varying in distance, age, and relations. Many including myself will question why pen-palling is favored or glorified as opposed to a simple and convenient text or email. This type of writing aligns with me very much and is more free form than most of the other areas of letter writing.
The link above is directed to an essay written by Edwina Preston, a PhD Candidate from the University of Melbourne. She puts focus on the art & heavy significance of letter writing, and how it’s being carried over into modern times. With thought-provoking references (Virginia Woolf), the writer reflects on her personal/family experiences relating to her point of view, as well as concerning historical instances (including love letters), and what it means to write letters. Her words and perspectives resonated with me and felt that this was worth sharing in terms of knowledge I was lucky to embark on.
Author
hmoore@muhlenberg.edu