International Day of Writing Letters ✉️
When Did It All Start?
I remember very clearly the first time I sent out not letters, but a set of handmade cards to the little “team” I went grape picking with: my uncle, my aunt, my mom, and my grandparents (I wrote about that episode also here on the blog). It was a small token of appreciation, a way to describe what I loved about that shared experience. Writing became a chance to reconnect with a beautiful memory, one that deserved not to be forgotten.
Why I Write
For me, writing letters is play, craft, and creation. It’s my own way of slowing down and being present in the Now. My love for aesthetics, writing, and emotions folds itself into paper, sometimes even scented with my perfume or a trace of neroli.
A letter is not only a story told through words, but also through the object itself: the enclosed envelope, carefully chosen paper, its texture, the wax seal stamped with my initials. And the stamps! Oh, how I love curating them, a collection I continue to update with joy.
Do Handwritten Letters Still Matter Today?
One of my favorite lines comes from Mary Schmich’s famous essay Wear Sunscreen:
“Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.”
That’s the essence of why I write: to strengthen intimacy, to keep my connections alive. Sometimes, it’s easier to reveal a vulnerable side of yourself on paper: a safe, settled medium where emotions can unfold without interruption.
WhatsApp Messages Fade, Letters Are Forever
Yes, digital messages can live on servers, but their permanence is sterile. The joy of re-reading old letters on a rainy afternoon is incomparable.
I keep a box of letters I’ve received, and I know that when nostalgia visits me in the colder months, leafing through them will fill my heart with warmth.
I once wrote a letter to a dear friend on her wedding day. She was, of course, busy entertaining guests, but I wanted to share with her the little adventures she missed. Through that letter, I could tell her the full story – and I’m quite sure she loved it.
The Benefits of Writing Letters
For me, letters are both visual art and emotional connection. They are mindfulness and therapy in one, slowing me down in a fast-paced, tech-driven world. But their benefits extend far beyond me.
The beauty is that letters often mix emotions, not in the cliché “mixed feelings” sense, but in the way that love blends with longing, or gratitude interlaces with nostalgia. Unlike instant digital messages, handwritten letters allow emotions to breathe, unfold, and travel across time.
