The holidays are rapidly approaching. Once again I am going to get on my soapbox and beg you to write a personal message (a.k.a. as a letter) in each and every greeting card that you send.
It is sad that the art of letter writing is nearing extinction; the thrill of finding a personal letter in the mail box is long gone. Phone calls, text messages and e-mails are quick and easy ways to keep in touch, but they don’t carry the same punch as reading and rereading the written word.
You don’t have to wait until Christmas to write. Do it now. Write a letter today. Your first efforts don’t have to be long. I know you have some pretty cards; they come in the mail from various charitable organizations all the time. Pick out a card with a nice message, address the envelope, and then write something. Tell someone that you are thinking about them today. Write to a family member or an old friend you haven’t heard from in a long time. Just a note will do; you can write a longer letter later, after you get the hang of things again.
You are not alone if you feel that handwriting is too much work. Manual dexterity becomes troublesome as we age; fingers become stiff and sore and they cramp up if you grip the pen too tightly, but don’t give up.
Buy some pretty stationary, with lines if necessary, and treat yourself to one of the new ergonomic pens (designed especially for people with hand issues). Put on some music, sit at your desk, do a few finger/hand exercises, and then gently touch your pen to the paper.
If it has been a long time you might need to dredge up a few basic skills that you learned as a child. Start with “Hi,” and go on from there. Experience the joy of communication all over again. Your first letters may be a little stilted and your penmanship a little shaky, but no one will mind…it’s the thought that counts.
Write, not only because it is a loving thing to do, but because the process of writing stimulates learning, memory, and thinking. A rather painless exercise don’t you think?
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