Sealed and Sent With Love

Back in the day, one of the main forms of long-distance communication was by letter. Connecting with loved ones required the time needed to write and the effort of ensuring the piece of paper arrived at its final destination. Today, technology has made it so one person can correspond with another in a matter of seconds. This advancement has many perks, such as the ability to easily stay in touch with friends and family who may be thousands of miles away. However, there is something so genuine and heart-warming about receiving a handwritten note that is lost in today’s global connectivity. The busyness of the modern day has resulted in a significant decrease in communication by letter. Connecting in this way adds a unique sense of romance and heartfelt emotion to interpersonal correspondence.

Why has writing letters become so infrequent? A variety of factors have contributed to this shift, convenience being at the top. We have the ability to stay in touch with others in a quick and easy manner, so why even bother with paper and pencil? The pace of society and the global economy has significantly increased since times of letter communication, requiring more efficient forms of correspondence. It would simply not make sense for a company to conduct business through letters, as the time needed to receive an answer would be detrimental to their success. Efficiency is prioritized and sometimes hides the beauty that comes with slowing down.

Receiving a positive text from someone is great, but opening your mailbox to a letter from someone you care about is even better. Sending a letter to someone lets them know they are worth the time and that connecting truly is a priority. The content of a letter versus a long text is, in general, more detailed and earnest. The time it takes to sit down and write, the connection of pencil on paper, causes memories and thoughts to surface that simply go unnoticed in the timelier process of shooting a text. Texts could be compared to small talk while notes are a deep, personal conversation.

Obviously, there is a very, very, very small chance that society will return to communicating exclusively by written word, but I do think it still has a time and place. Winter break is approaching and the holiday season is upon us, meaning comfort and joy are in the air. Break also means many of us will be spending weeks away from the close friends who have become family. This is the perfect opportunity to send a letter to someone important to you. It is inevitable certain points of life will require us to be miles and miles away from those who hold a place in our heart. An occasional, genuine letter correspondence would make this distance seem less daunting.

Connection with others is imperative, and catching up with those we love can be the most fulfilling experience. We live in a period of never-ending advancements in technology and the ability to catch up while rushing between classes and meetings. Taking the time to write a letter and pop it in the mailbox requires us to slow down ever so slightly, and sends a message unable to be achieved by text or email. Over this winter break, I urge us all to try and send at least one hand written note to someone to emphasize the strength of your connection. I would be surprised if this would not positively impact the days of both sender and receiver.

Farewell message: This will be the last article written by Riley Ferré for The Exponent. The Exponent will miss you but you will do great! Goodbye and Good luck for your next adventure. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you! Cheers!