For hundreds of years, there were only two ways to communicate: either you sat down and talked with someone, or you wrote down your ideas and feelings in a letter and sent it to them through courier. Because each letter had the permanent imprint of its author, the very nature of letters made them extraordinarily intimate.
A letter sent by mail could contain anything from the delicate odors of your house and perfume to snippets from your garden. World Letter Writing Day is a time for you to reflect on the glories of the handwritten word because digital media simply doesn’t have the same level of intimacy as this traditional method.
When is National Letter Writing Day?
The purpose of World Letter Writing Day, which falls on December 7, is to honor this traditional method of correspondence. You have a wonderful opportunity on World Letter Writing Day to get in touch with someone you may not have spoken to in a while. Additionally, it is beneficial to plan your writing. We don’t often pause and consider our actions before communicating with someone thanks to current communication forms. But a letter gives you the ideal chance to do this.
National Letter Writing Day History
Richard Simpkin created World Letter Writing Day as a tribute to the delight and anticipation he had whenever a handwritten letter would show up in his mailbox. Due to a project he was working on called “Australian Legends,” where he would write letters to everyone he thought should be an Australian Legend in hopes of setting up a personal interview and photographic session, he developed a respect for the handwritten word. Receiving a letter from a legend who had added their own personal touch was really incredible, and it surely helps that digital communication is not collectible like handwritten letters are.
National Letter Writing Day Activities
Grab a pen and some paper, and get to writing! It can be difficult to decide who to write to, but you should choose an old friend or family member of any age. Receiving a written personal letter from a loved one can be new for the young because it isn’t done very often anymore. By doing this, you can share with them the special and intimate feeling of doing so. If saved, unlike digital emails, it is something you may have for a very long time after they have vanished from our world.
Another choice is to send it to a parent or grandparent who was present when there were no other means to get in touch with someone who lived far away. While letters could be sent through the mail at a reasonable price, phone calls were quite expensive. Use World Letter Writing Day as an opportunity to practice your writing and show a loved one that they are worth the additional effort.
However, you are not required to mail your letter to a friend or member of your family. There are many other alternatives. You may compose a letter of support for a patient at the hospital in your community. Something like this could make someone genuinely happy and motivate them to get through a challenging day. You might also write a letter of gratitude to an older mentor or a letter of support and appreciation to a military veteran or someone serving in the military right now. Another option is to thank a doctor, dentist, or physical therapist who has improved your life in a letter. A simple letter of appreciation can go a long way.
