Nowadays, handwritten notes are a rare commodity and grow
rarer by the day. Newer generations prefer to communicate via text, email, Twitter
or Facebook, which are all completely relevant. Who actually has time to
purchase a book of stamps or manually spell check the note for mistakes? While
communication has become more efficient over the years, I believe that it is
premature to write off the importance of handwritten notes because they remain
impactful and unique in several ways.
First of all, handwritten notes often convey personal
messages of gratitude, civility, remembrance and appreciation. Gratitude is
good for the brain because it induces a feeling of wellbeing. While saying “thank-you”
is important, the beauty of a well-crafted handwritten note is that it can show
deeper investment and appreciation than a simple thank-you can. In a world
where communication is so practical, these thoughtful gestures can show an
individual that he or she really matters in your life.
In addition to impact, a handwritten note also contains the
essence of permanence. How many keepsakes do you have in your closet? Perhaps high
school yearbooks or a scrapbook sit on the shelf in your room. A lot of the
time, cards and notes are stored in a keepsake box or somewhere protected, thus,
demonstrating their importance. Not to say that email and text messages can’t
be preserved for years to come, but archiving an email isn’t tangible and
enduring like old notes can be.
It may seem nostalgic, but I still believe that there’s room
for the occasional handwritten note in both personal and professional
communication. In a stack of mail, a handwritten note is a hidden treasure. Notes
let the people in our lives know we appreciate them enough to do something as
archaic as putting a pen to paper in an attempt to connect in a meaningful way.
XOXO | Riley
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