Handwritten letters are a rarity and a treat, these days. I've got some of my mum's letters that she wrote to her parents when my siblings and I were tots, describing family life before I can remember it. (She found them when she was clearing her parents' house after they died and I found them when I was clearing my parents' house.) I love those insights gleaned from physical letters.
I don’t have as many family letters as I’d like (they really do fit in a shoebox) but the ones I have are precious! And transcriptions are useful but the originals have valuable indirect information too.
You have inspired me, Victoria! Actually, this post is the fourth nudge in as many weeks toward letter writing, and the one that pushed me over 😉 what a delightful idea and so meaningful at this time in history when all correspondence is instant and lost to history. Thanks!
I have some ideas I’m considering. One of the other nudges that found me was writing a letter a week to a different person, which sounded fun. But I’m leaning toward something closer to your idea, but maybe suggesting a topic? Again, still processing. 😉
I liked spacing out my replies over almost a year. They clustered around birthdays but were still manageable. I am not sure I could stick with a letter a week!
I love this piece! I agree it's all about connection, about slowing down and reaching out to someone. I've taken it upon myself this year to handwrite one letter a day. I'm loving the few minutes of quiet I spend in the morning, thinking about the person, about our connection. It so beats email and texting. Happy 60th!
I love so much here. SPAWN vs AI .. what AI can never do for us, so aptly demonstrated by SPAWN. Also, white out still exists? And what a great way to make use of inherited post cards! I have a stack of art cards … hmm
That was a lovely read and such a nice idea! I’m a year ahead of you and I, too, remember the excitement of finding a letter, postcard….anything in the mailbox with my name on it. I just may have to send you my address. ☺️
What a brilliant project, Victoria! It could be applied to any topic or event. A wedding, an anniversary, cheering an elder. I’m thinking now about an historic change in government. Ask for letters on the occasion.
Come to think of it, that’s like “reverse Storyworth”
This was lovely, Victoria. I send a few hand-written Christmas card to family every year but that's about it. And the custom of sending hand-written New Year cards in Japan seems to have declined.
Handwritten letters are a rarity and a treat, these days. I've got some of my mum's letters that she wrote to her parents when my siblings and I were tots, describing family life before I can remember it. (She found them when she was clearing her parents' house after they died and I found them when I was clearing my parents' house.) I love those insights gleaned from physical letters.
I don’t have as many family letters as I’d like (they really do fit in a shoebox) but the ones I have are precious! And transcriptions are useful but the originals have valuable indirect information too.
You have inspired me, Victoria! Actually, this post is the fourth nudge in as many weeks toward letter writing, and the one that pushed me over 😉 what a delightful idea and so meaningful at this time in history when all correspondence is instant and lost to history. Thanks!
You’re welcome! Do you have some letters in mind to write?
I have some ideas I’m considering. One of the other nudges that found me was writing a letter a week to a different person, which sounded fun. But I’m leaning toward something closer to your idea, but maybe suggesting a topic? Again, still processing. 😉
I liked spacing out my replies over almost a year. They clustered around birthdays but were still manageable. I am not sure I could stick with a letter a week!
Good luck! And enjoy—
I loved reading this Victoria
Thank you!
I love this piece! I agree it's all about connection, about slowing down and reaching out to someone. I've taken it upon myself this year to handwrite one letter a day. I'm loving the few minutes of quiet I spend in the morning, thinking about the person, about our connection. It so beats email and texting. Happy 60th!
Thank you! Handwriting a letter a day is a lot— but then it has those spreading benefits too.
I love so much here. SPAWN vs AI .. what AI can never do for us, so aptly demonstrated by SPAWN. Also, white out still exists? And what a great way to make use of inherited post cards! I have a stack of art cards … hmm
Ha. Yes, white out! 😁 And you know I’d sign up for a postcard!
That was a lovely read and such a nice idea! I’m a year ahead of you and I, too, remember the excitement of finding a letter, postcard….anything in the mailbox with my name on it. I just may have to send you my address. ☺️
Please do! (I feel the same way.)
Where do I find your email? I will and I’ll send one back 👌
Great! I sent you my email via direct message. If you don’t use the app you can also just reply to the emailed newsletter. If that doesn’t work lmk.
What a brilliant project, Victoria! It could be applied to any topic or event. A wedding, an anniversary, cheering an elder. I’m thinking now about an historic change in government. Ask for letters on the occasion.
Come to think of it, that’s like “reverse Storyworth”
This was lovely, Victoria. I send a few hand-written Christmas card to family every year but that's about it. And the custom of sending hand-written New Year cards in Japan seems to have declined.