Saturday
Apr232011
Handwritten Connections
April 23, 2011 * * * * * Posted by: guest blogger 
As technology has advanced and social media has become a part of our everyday life it can seem as though everything is condensed down to instant connections. Like so many of us I email, tweet, facebook and blog but a part of me remains drawn to the handwritten letter.
Ever since I can remember I’ve loved the act of putting pen to paper. I don’t have the prettiest handwriting, and I may not always have something interesting to say, but I often find myself compelled to write.As someone who has a hard time expressing herself I’ve found that written words can form a bridge. They allow me to convey things I find myself unable to say and to be more intimate and personal.
When my sister and I found ourselves an ocean apart I felt a familiar tug pulling at my sleeve. Instinctively we turned to writing as our preferred form of communication. We get to share snippets of our daily lives, ponder answers to many of life’s questions, relay random musings, seek and give advice, reminisce over childhood memories, tell of new experiences and so much more. The words we choose to spill onto paper convey something deeper and have enabled us to form a unique bond.
More recently I found myself connecting with two wonderful pen pals that I was fortunate to meet through a photography blog. While I’ve never met these women in person I feel a special connection to them through the words they write.
Whether from a loved one or a friend, the anticipation of waiting for a letter is only outweighed by the excitement of receiving one. Each letter is a true gift. It’s personal in a way that email and text messages can never be. The sender had to physically connect with it. They touch the pen to paper, think of you as they write and then seal and mail it. It contains a part of them.
Letters are a window into the past, a record of who and where we were at a particular time. To me they’re like treasured possessions and if my house were to catch on fire they’d be among one of the first things I would grab.
I often find myself re-reading letters I’ve received and experiencing their magic all over again. I can’t help but wonder who will hold them in their hands and read them some day.
Do you send handwritten letters? How does it make you feel to receive one?
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Special guest post today by Kathryn Dyche Dechairo– whose beautiful work can be seen over at her blog Kathryn Dyche Dechairo Designs. Thank you for joining us here today, Kathryn, and for sharing with us your thoughtful and inspiring words.
Reader Comments (16)
I love to receive handwritten letters myself, and write the occasional one too. But foremost I write a lot of snail mail cards, instead of e-cards. I love that... and love to surprise people with cards... each day of the year, not just with birthdays or holidays...
Y'know...when I stop and think about it - I realize it's been years since I've written a letter and even longer than that since I've received one. You're definitely inspiring me to sit down and hand-write..because it's an 'art' (as your image so beautifully illustrates) that shouldn't be forgotten.
Thank-you for this..and for joining us here today!!!
I have the love letters my father once wrote to my mother. Not only has he the most beautiful handwriting you can imagine, the words that rolled out of his pen still make me teary, whenever I read the letters. There is a whole pile of them, and I have seriously considered publishing them, of course edited and molded into a bookform. Maybe one day I will.
It made me love writing with a pen myself, and I even have a collection of fountain pens I use regularly.
So I guess I can totally relate to your words.
Thank you so much for your wonderful post today
Hand-writing a letter, in my opinion, is an art in itself. Sadly, I rarely write a letter...or even add a hand-written sentiment to a greeting card. When I do, I find myself scratching out mis-spelled words or poorly chosen words.
Your post and image reminds me of how truly special a hand-written letter can be. Thank you for joining us today.
i am a letter writer through and through. loved this.
Thanks everyone for your beautiful comments.
Chantal, I love sending letters and snail mail 'just because' too.
Marcie and Sue - I say go for it . . . . don't worry about spelling or poorly chosen words I can tell you that everyone is so delighted to receive something that I don't even notice those things.
Marion - what an amazing treasure the love letters from your father to your mother must be. I love fountain pens too but I write with a heavy hand and tend to break the nibs on them too frequently.
I can totally relate to what you have written here, Kathryn. Hand-written letters were so much a part of my past life, you'd think I'd be still writing them religiously. I think back on that time with great nostalgia. I LIVED for writing letters and receiving them. Today the most I ever do is send a postcard back to America! So sad. But I agree, there's nothing like the feel of a good pen on paper. I even identify with Marion and her fountain pens! :)
Welcome to V&V today and thank you for being our guest.
I very seldom write letters, even in the days when I did write letters - only about three or four a year for inclusion in birthday cards to some special people. Your post did make me realize that I missed writing one earlier this month. My handwriting is so bad, that I typicaly write the letter on a computer and print it out so that it is legible for the reader. I do tend to add a special note to cards and don't rely solely on the cards sentiment. Anyway, thank you so much for joining us here today!
i wish i received more letters!! such a beautiful feeling of anticipation, carrying the envelope into the house to open it. great post.
I used to write many many letters and receive them as well. With modern technology and a busy life this has trickeled down to a very few. However, I still love it and wish I'd do it more. I love using my fountain pen although by now it leaks a bit and I always get purple fingers (yes, I use purple ink). Your post has inspired me to go back more to writing letters.
yes, we should more often write and receive real written letters. i do write self-made greeting- and birthday cards, but letters would be fun too.good post, thanks for sharing.
I miss that part of my life! I used to write many letters and really enjoyed receving them. Now with the computer age it's been ages since I last wrote or received one... :( I think we ladies of V&V should exchange a few letters/postcards - Just curious to see your handwritings! :)
...And really love your image! :)
Yes, I am so with you on this one! There is nothing like a handwritten letter, no replacement. I love writing them, and receiving them, and like you, I feel that I write so much better than I can communicate through speech. Love this post, so glad to see you here!
I treasure the hand written notes from my kids. I have kept almost everyone. When I first started scrap booking, I was told that journaling by hand was more important than placing the photos in the albums. It's very special. Welcome to Vision and Verb!
your email makes me feel oh so nostalgic, thinking of the lovely days of receiving letters through the post...and then i remember always being quite fussy about the pen i used to write back and i would always look for lovely paper. it's so sad that much of that has gone now; for me it's a necessity as our mail service out here is dire and moves at the speed of an ox-cart. but i sometimes forget even what my handwriting is like, or my boyfriends...actually when did he even last write me something. sad isn't it. might have to change that :)