Annette Rochelle Aben is a guest on Chris The Story Reading Ape‘s blog, challenging us to turn off our digital devices for a bit and revive the lost art of personal communication, by putting pen to paper in the form of a handwritten letter. Receiving a letter in the post from family and friends is always a treat. December is Write a Friend Month, and Annette suggests reaching beyond our inner circle to those who might need encouragement or simply to know they are not alone. #Recommended ❤
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When was the last time you received a letter in the mail? No, I don’t mean the ones like I receive, informing me of the great opportunity to settle my final arrangements before my family is burdened with the responsibility. Life can begin at any age but it gets fun once you turn 60. But I digress…
I was raised to write letters. Every time I received a gift, I wrote a thank you note. If I was having a party, I created invitations. When I wanted to communicate with a friend who had moved away from the neighborhood, I sent letters. Partly because there was NO privacy on the family phone, that hung in the kitchen, right around the corner from the living room. At least there was a hope that only the intended would be reading my letters. It was just what we did. And it was a big deal when the mail came because a letter meant that someone thought highly of you.
In this age of texting, emoji’s and social media, we have gotten away from the personal communication of the handwritten letter. We’ve settled for the immediacy of snippets of ideas or conversation as opposed to giving time and attention to the connection with someone else. It’s as though we have put relationships in the same category as disposable razors . . .
Brilliant idea. Loved writing letters. A lost art now? Shouldn’t be!!
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I’m with you on that one, Judith! ❤
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Agreed! Shouldn’t be and doesn’t need to be… Have stamps, will mail! ❤
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Thanks for sharing, Tina ❤
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Welcome, Chris ❤
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What a beautiful idea, I miss hand written letters, I would write letters as a child to my Grandma, who lived some distance away, and would relish receiving her letters, that were enclosed within my Mothers.. And look forward to the school holidays when I would travel and spend my time with them.
Many thanks for sharing this Tina.. And Happy to now be back from my travels..
Wishing you well my friend..
Love Sue xx ❤
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I am certain that 2018 will see more and more people sending letters! Have stamps, will mail! ❤
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Indeed.. 🙂 ❤
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Welcome, Sue, and nice to have you back with us. I hope you had a relaxing time. How lovely to share letter-writing with your Grandma. That’s a memory to treasure forever ❤
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I did keep one of her letters, but when we moved home, it sadly got mixed up in some papers and got lost.. But the memory is still vivid as was her love.. Thank you my friend xx Hugs xx ❤
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Hugs, dear Sue ❤❤
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So important to continue letter writing. Love this post!
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Here’s to something awesome arriving in a letter box near you, SOON! ❤
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Oooo!!! I love letters! ❤️
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Thank you, Jennie. Do you ever write letters together with your pupils? ❤
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Oh, Yes!! Our letters are written on large chart paper, with words dictated by the children, and then decorated by the children. These are always very special letters. Children understand. And when we get a response, that is the icing on the cake. It cements the importance of letter writing. Currently we’re waiting to hear back from Her Majesty The Queen of England. She answers her mail. Last year we wrote letters to our pen-pal soldier in Afghanistan, and he responded AND visited the children. Letter writing rocks!
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Wow! You’re giving these children a gift that keeps giving, Jennie ❤
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Thank you, Tina. 😍
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I appreciate handwritten letters but hand problems leave me with a digital device. As a teacher, there is lots of conversation about the importance of handwriting to kids vs. keyboarding. Lots of good research on the subject.
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God Bless. I know that even when I have dashed a letter off using my computer and printer, it was greatly appreciated by the recipient. As long as we continue to find some way to keep it personal, people will appreciate the effort! ❤
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Thank you for mentioning the research, Jacqui. I’m sure people understand about your hand problems and appreciate any form of personal communication from you ❤
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Wonderful post from Annette. Handwritten letters are treasures these days. Not long ago, I was reading old saved letters with my mother who can no longer see them. It was so special to her. We don’t tend to print and save emails, and I don’t think it would be quite the same anyway. Thanks for sharing, Tina. ❤
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That lump in my throat reminded me of why I save the cards, notes and letters my dad sends me. When I see his signature, it reminds me that he is there and that he cares. ❤
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Sweet, Annette. I know just what you mean. ❤
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Welcome, Diana, and thank you for the lovely comment. Your mother must be so appreciative ❤
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H/W letters a lost ‘Art Form’… Thanks for sharing.
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Up to us, to help it live a longer, happier life!
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Welcome, Billy Ray, and thanks for stopping by ❤
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A pleasure… ♥
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Such a shame! Writing on a computer certainly has its positives but its negatives too.
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I confess to using a printed out letter from time to time, however, that is generally when I am convinced that the recipient will need to read what I wrote more clearly. Sometimes, I can hardly read what I am writing, I tend to write fact in cursive.
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I don’t have neat writing I’m sure mine would be far more legible type written too! Lol.
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It turns us into little robots at times 🙂
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Wonderful reminders from Annette about the gifts and art of writing. ❤
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Back in the day, I would LIVE for the sight of the letter carrier heading down the street. He’d have one of those little rolling carts and if he turned up our walk, I would imagine there would be a letter for me in the stack of mail. I still smile when a letter arrives and I actually have a couple pen pals who take the time to put pen to paper. ❤
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I hear you my friend! ❤
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Thanks, Deb. I loved it ♥
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❤
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I loved this post. Handwritten letters is a dying art.
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Let’s hope it makes a comeback 🙂 ❤
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And from the responses, I can well imagine that new life will be breathed into it
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I send out so many snail mail cards, I need to budget my card/stamp expenditure every month! I so agree with Annette. Send love with a card and a letter and a stamp!
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It all comes back to good! 🙂
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Thank you, Pam. A written card/letter can inspire love ❤
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A letter writing kit is a great idea for a present, Annette! Wonderful choice of reblog, Tina ❤
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A great way to have fun all the way around!
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Thank you, Christy. Annette is so creative ❤
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Hey, I still write letters, along with physical Christmas cards with a printed newsletter. I love them–both getting and giving them. I plan on doing this until the day I die, even if everyone else calls me an old fogey. 🙂
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YOU, rock! ❤
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Let’s be anachronistic together! 🙂
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I’m right there with you, Cathleen! We’ll be old fogies together 🙂 ❤
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