Love letters

I was looking for some inspiration online and came across this quote;

‘This world needs good kind words now more than ever’

It belongs to an amazing website called www.moreloveletters.com which is a website encouraging written letters and arranges for people who are having a difficult time to receive letters from around the world. I also discovered a number of other websites that facilitate letter writing for mental health, which is something I will explore next.

But right now this got me thinking about the written word, communicating and love letters.

I am sure we have all heard of love letters being found after a grandparent has passed away or discovered in an old chest of draws. These letters often seem exciting, couples separated when the man had gone to fight in World War 2, a forbidden relationship or couples living at opposite ends of the country and counting down the days until they see each other again. When we read these letters we see an exchange of love, worry, hopes and dreams between two people. We see a story of their relationship and their feelings towards each other.

I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful token or memory of your relationship to have. Before the telephone, internet, emails and social media the written word was the main form of communication, keeping people connected all over the country. Today we have technology at our finger tips, literally, our phones are almost an extension of our hands. We can speak on the phone, video chat, instant message whenever we want to with our family and friends where ever they maybe.

But there is something about receiving a letter in the post that isn’t a bill or dunk mail. Not being able to see who it is from until you open the envelope and unfolder the paper in side or open the card, it’s even better when you are not expecting it.

Recently my Mum gave me a letter I had received from my Grandad (Pop). We were living in Germany at the time and my homework was to ask a Grandparent about what job they did. I didn’t even remember writing to Pop, or receiving the letter. Pop passed away when I was 10 years old, but I have a really personal memory that I can re-read anytime, in his handwriting, reminding me that he sat down and replied to me.

We have new tools we use to document our lives, such as social media, it’s a great way of sharing updates and photos with family and friends. But there is something about the written word, there is something about receiving a letter that someone has written by hand. There is something about holding a piece of paper that is just meant for you.

When someone tells you how they feel , that moment is lovely, when someone writes it down and gives it to you, you can relive that memory over and over again, it’s a reminder of that person, the joy you share and that moment in time.

So should we be writing more letters, should we be capturing more moments in time and sharing them with the people we love? Should we sit down with a pen and paper and write a love letter to our partners, our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and grandparents? Should we share our thoughts and feelings using pen and paper, creating a precious keep sake for the future? I think we should, I think we should commit pen to paper and capture our thoughts and feelings and share them with the people we love, because this world needs good, kind words now more than ever.

Ellie- EWG Counsellor