Hi Sweet Friends,
It’s Monday – hallelujah! Another chance to begin again. Yay!
Today we’re adding a small but powerful tool to our Self-Care Toolboxes:
Send a Handwritten Note.
Now, I can just hear you… why in the world would I take all the time and effort to do that when I can email or text so much more quickly?
As usual, I’m glad you asked! *wink*
There is research on just about every little idea ever thought and, true to form, there is research about writing handwritten notes! Sure, it might sound as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard, but it’s not really. And the benefits to both you, the writer, as well as the receiver are worth the effort.
In no particular order, here are some benefits to the sender…
- A big benefit to you is increased feelings of happiness. Yep. Steve Toepfer, Kent State University says writing letters of gratitude helps you feel happier, more satisfied and even decreases symptoms of depression! Makes sense, right? Counting your blessings and noticing the beauty around us is always uplifting.
- It’s classy. We don’t want to be doing things to puff ourselves up, but let’s face it, receiving a handwritten notes really increases your esteem for the sender. It’s like, “Wow, you took time to write to me! How wonderful of you!” You set yourself apart from the rest of the world. The texting/email world is slap-dash, in a hurry to move on. (Now, please. Don’t get me wrong. If you send me a text or email, I’ll appreciate that too. I appreciate it whenever or however you send me personal words.)
- It encourages you to pause and think, to consider the other person and to voice what’s important about that person. Except in case of fire, it’s usually a good idea to pause and reflect. A pause calms your breathing and heart rate, and also focuses a racing mind.
- It’s also a chance to improve- or show off- your handwriting skills. We can all use practice, right?
- I don’t mean to be morbid but I’m happy that I still have a few cards from my mother, mother-in-love and friends who are no longer with me. It’s comforting to see familiar handwriting and remember good times with that person.
Now, how about some benefits to the recipient and even future generations?
- Older friends and family (ahem) really appreciate handwritten notes. That is the sort of thing they grew up doing and tried to teach their children. It shows them particularly that you care. Plus, they can go back and read your note again and again. We all can. That is a benefit for everyone who is blessed to receive a written note.
- It’s tradition, which goes along with the previous bullet. So much of our history has been gleaned by reading letters written between family members, or important officials. The interesting trivia of life shared through letters adds texture and color to the past generations, helping us know where we come from and the many things we hold in common.
- To continue that thought, just look at the letters we find in museums. Somehow, those delicate pages have held together for decades, even centuries, and often give us many important words to cherish even to this day.
- Writing a letter by hand, is evidence to your family or friend that they are important to you. They are worth the effort and time to write to them. Thereby strengthening the bond between the two of you. Besides, it’s a terrific surprise! Our snail mail is so boring nowadays. It’s filled with bills and junk advertising. We rarely get anything personal. Doesn’t it make you feel good to get even the smallest handwritten note from a friend or far-away family member? It sure makes my day!
A handwritten note is truly a gift and you cannot get much cheaper than a pretty piece of paper, a pen and a stamp. You’re giving a little piece of yourself to your recipient. Writing a note is powerful. You can encourage and inspire or even add a little spark to a romance. Tell ‘em a joke and give them something to laugh about! Send a quote or scripture that encourages you. Just let them know you are thinking about them and care.
So, let’s get started! Think about someone you appreciate and love but haven’t been in touch with for a long time. One writer suggested thinking of what you would tell that person if you knew you would never have another chance to communicate with him/her. Write that down on any scrap of paper, just scribble it. Then find the right card. It can have a funny picture or a lovely scene. It can even be handmade (a bonus gift!!). Now simply rewrite your message onto the card, address it, put a stamp on it and know that you are about to add a lot of sunshine to the day of someone you love!
A double blessing: helping yourself while helping someone else. I’d say that’s taking good care of yourself. I’ve inspired myself to write a couple of folks!
How about you? Do you handwrite notes? Do you love to receive them? Are you going to write one? Can you think of other benefits that writing letters or notes might bring?
Please leave a comment and share your thoughts. Thanks for reading.
God bless you!
Pathways and Portals 