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Post a Letter Today!

World Post Day is marked on the 9th of October. This is the date when the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874.

We are so used to communicating via modern means – text messaging, mobiles and emails – that we miss out on the joy of the good old-fashioned letter. Time saving and convenience have been prioritised over meaningful connection. How many ‘friends’ do you have on social media? How many of them are you regularly in contact with?

Sending a letter, card or gift shows true thought and care towards the recipient. Writing a letter, buying a stamp and then walking to the post box all takes effort and energy. This effort could even be appreciated years later. I recently discovered letters I wrote to family whilst studying (this term is used very loosely) at university. It transported me 20 years back in time.

So why is it still important to handwrite letters?

By Jessica White

It focuses us in the moment

Sending an electronic message takes hardly any time. We can message on the move – and many of us do. Whilst taking the kids to school or walking the dog. We are ultimately distracted from life. Writing a letter requires us to set aside quality time to sit with pen and paper. It focuses us on the current moment giving us time to pause. We are more conscious of what we want to express.

It prompts us to think about the reader

We are no longer casually posting a picture of our dinner on social media. We are engaging in a relationship with a particular person. We consider how they will interpret our words and the value of our message. Whilst writing a letter, we are connected to the person we are writing to.

It improves our writing skills

Let’s face it, some people rarely pick up a pen. When they do, they can’t remember how to physically write. They have been glued to screens and laptops for so long it really is becoming a forgotten art. The act of writing is slower. This means we are more aware of our errors; it’s not as easy to delete them. We are forced to think carefully before we put pen to paper.

It encourages honesty

I’m sure we’ve all experienced sending a message, regretting it and hastily pressing ‘delete for all’. This can’t happen with a letter. The written word has more staying power – there is more permanence in your words. When you’ve posted it, there’s no recall option! We need to write our truth and things we are happy to share with others.

It’s good for your mental health

According to one study, reading and writing is good for your health. It can slow the rate of cognitive mental decline by up to 15%. Letter writing keeps you mentally alert. Daily writing works your brain which increases your ‘cognitive reserve’. This effectively helps ward off dementia.

What was the last letter you received in the post? Another reminder to return overdue library books? Or is that just me?

Receiving a handwritten letter will be the highlight of someone’s day. Sure to bring a welcome smile, the effort of letter writing will definitely be appreciated.