Handwritten letters
Handwritten letters are underrated. It used to be the norm couple of decades ago. There was no WhatsApp or email. Letters have intention you can't take it back once you have sent it. With the recent WhatsApp and other social media apps the message is instant and you can just revert back your messages. So anything you want to say comes up in the sprint of the moment without giving it much thought. Though it can be helpful in some scenarios I think taking time to think on what to write has a much more deeper connection and intent.
My first handwritten letter I received was from my ex, she wrote it for two pages. I just loved it. It was a new experience for me. I still have it. I still read it after so many years. A lovely gesture which I got attached to. ( If it's otiko then katiko moment for me ) I then wrote back to her too. This experience had some real connection, was much more intimate and intentional than SMS messages. ( Handwritten Letters were not limited to the 200 characters and the 100 messages per day limit )
So during my Masters I decided to write a letter to my mum. I wanted to share this experience with my mother too. I wrote everything from my heart and sent it. The response? She was so happy. She said this is the first letter she has ever gotten not even my dad has sent one. She even read the letter to the neighbours ( I was like why Ma! ) I was really happy too.
My first Experiment: So I bought bunch of Letter covers and A4 sheet papers and told everyone in my class to write a letter to their home too. Even told the day scholars to write one to their distant family or to just to their home address. Some of them were hesitant and with a little push everyone did it except a few. I told everyone to bring back the letters tomorrow and collected everyone and sent it myself. I was not sure they would send it. ( That's how much determined I was ) After a few days everyone started receiving the letters to their homes and everyone shared on how the person who receive the letter was happy. ( Mostly to parents ) It was a success!! Yay!! I made a few bunch of people enjoy the joy of handwritten letters. ( I hope they also katiko this habit )
My second Experiment: I am sure we all have that WhatsApp group where the only messages is wishing one of the group members HappyBirthday! I didn't like it felt we are wishing more like a courtesy. Suddenly Handwritten Letters flashed through my mind. My next problem was how to get their address without them knowing and giving them a surprise, so I had an insider in the department where I got access to the address of all of my classmates. Hehe. I jotted down all of their Birthdays and one by one for the next year I sent hand written letters to all of my classmates wishing them happy birthday and asking them how they were doing, shared a personal memory I share with them and requested them not to post in status or anywhere so that it will be a surprise to everyone in my class. Everyone loved it. Few letters didn't get any response because not I am not sure it was delivered which made me to think this must have happened during the old days too. Even if you write a letter it's not guaranteed it will be received by the person. I truly wish there was a read receipts like our phone messages for letters too. ( This can be solved if we are sending it in courier ) A few of my friends still tell me that they have the letter and saw it just a few weeks or months ago.
A day ago I was talking to one of my friends with whom I have sent a letter before. When I sent him a message saying that let me know if you need any help. He replied me back that the letter which I sent a few years ago has helped him whenever he is down and thanked me for it. This hit the spot!
So start writing hand written letters! Thank me letter!