Why the Written Letter Is Better

To be honest, I am the e-mailinist fool you will ever meet. Do you like that word, emailinist? I made it up just now. I love to e-mail short notes, hellos, a juicy morsel of gossip, recipes, pictures, anything really, and I love to do it every day. If there were a job out there for such a person I would be the perfect fit, and if you know of such a job, please refer me to the employer. HA HA! No really.

As the e-mailinist person around, I can attest that there is truth in the idea that written correspondence is much better. An e-mail seems so ordinary, so flat on the page and, well, cold. A handwritten letter received in the mail really brightens my day. And to write a note, or a letter, well, anyone who receives a written letter from me should know how really special they are because it took a lot of effort to put pen to paper, to keep my hand from cramping, to put my ideas together coherently on the page. It is an effort and a great act of love on my part.

FACTS:
*175% more text messages are sent each month compared to phone calls.
* 73% of cell phone users say that the cell phone is the most important device in their social life.
* 66% of U.S. Internet users said email was their preferred channel for written communications between friends.
*Every week, the average person receives 1.5 personal letters. (I am severly below this average by the way.)
*Feeling appreciated is one of the strongest human desires. (Alas, tis true!)
*There is warmth in a handwritten note—it instantly makes the message more personal, creates a more intimate feeling, and makes the recipient feel more valued.
*With e-mail, text messaging and instant messaging, a handwritten note is getting rarer and therefore more special.
*A handwritten note costs less than a dollar to write and mail, and the relational value is priceless.
*The recipient can keep and reread it forever.
(Oprah.com, Write a Note of Gratitude)

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your pen and any ol’ paper and make someone’s day by writing them a note!