About 67% said they have sent or would send mail to family and friends.
you’ve got the option to dash off a text in seconds, without paying much attention.
But it takes time and purposefulness to send letters.
Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou
People feel special and valued when they receive personal letters.
For example, you could write in a journal, a popular way to express feelings and thoughts.
Letter Writing
Letter writing is another form of writing thats especially helpful in processing difficult things.
Im a psychotherapist and writer, says Sherry Amatenstein, LCSW, author of four books.
I often recommend that my patientswrite letters to themselvesand others.
Whether they send the letters or not isnt necessarily the point.
I will suggest that Diane write a letter to her younger self, who suffered these grievous wounds.
Many studies show that writing is a healing act.
Frustrations or sadnessor any emotioncan then be expressed as you write to caring people in your life.
Recipients of reassuring letters feel more optimistic about getting through challenging times.
It Slows Down Our Communication
Letter writing, compared to digital exchanges, slows down our communication.
Our society has become bombarded with rapid news and an expectation of rapid responses.
Thisbarrage of stressorswas, understandably, taxing.
Slowing down our communication is a big plus.
With overflowing inboxes, werace to respondand move on to the next email.
When we open our home mailbox, its unusual to find something thats not a billa positive surprise.
In the past, people anticipated, looked forward to, and got excited about receiving letters.
We can take our time.
We get the refreshing benefit of slowing our mind and body down.
Its therefore understandable that we areexhausted by Zoom meetingsand FaceTime happy hours.
Thus, letter writing has become an old-but-new-again alternative.
Maybe all of us are saturated with screen use, even native users, and welcome an alternative.
Writing a letter is creating something tangible and enjoyable, too.
You write letters with a pen and paper and the recipient can physically open and hold onto a letter.
Letters, even those merely about daily activities, are comforting and are opened with enthusiasm.
Letter Writing Connects Strangers
Letter writing can also connect strangers in beneficial ways.
Limited interactions during the pandemic created a slew of negatives for older people.
Pen pal programs serve as a way to increase interactions in a safe and beneficial manner.
Meanwhile, thepandemic adversely affected the mental healthof children and teenagers, too.
Pen pal programs, especially intergenerational ones, forge connections and benefit children and older adults alike.
The lost art of letter writing unites people and is a boon to those of all ages.
Expressing gratitude through a card or letter especially lightens the hearts of your recipients.
It helps people focus on gratitude.
It takes extra effort to write and send a letter, but Amatenstein says Its a lovely gesture.
You have to think What do I want to say to express appreciation?
I suggest youre specific and heartfelt.
You shopped and delivered groceries to me, risking your own health.
Your generosity means a lot to me.
Amatenstein adds, So many studies show the psychological well-being benefit of actually expressing gratitude.
In its most basic form, it can help us maintain family ties and friendships, and share news.
But it can also help us express our feelings of anxiety, gratitude and hope.
Letter writing also helps us connect with strangers and deepen our connections with loved ones.
Letters take on more significance in an age of electronic communications.
Letter writing creates a more lasting form of communication, too.
United States Postal Service.USPS Market Research and Insights: COVID Mail Attitudes Understanding & Impact (April 2020).
Zaveri M.To battle isolation, elders and children connect as pen pals.The New York Times.
