I have noticed that as a society progressing and evolving with technology, more and more gestures with a personal touch are becoming a lost art. Such is the case with handwritten notes or cards. In the day and age of the Internet, it has become too easy to create events and simply send out a blast email or even an Evite ((cringe)). It’s the lazy man’s way of getting things done and the need for immediate gratification being satisfied. Because technology is now at our literal fingertips, any love letter, thank you note, invitation or birthday card can be condensed down within an email or a specific application. Letter writing has become nothing more than a lost art… and one I personally feel deserves to make a comeback, especially now. There are no personal touches that can be added to an email. Nobody picked out the perfect paper or card. Nobody took the time to sit down and thoughtfully handwrite something specific. Instead, they used a computer and in just a few clicks, created an event and invited 100 people, all in under 5 minutes. Don’t get me wrong, electronic correspondence is quite useful in business, however real life with real people we have meaningful relationships with deserves a bit more in my opinion.
Personally, I love going to my mailbox and finding a handwritten letter or card. It’s quite exciting imagining what could be inside. A handwritten note or card can say more than any email could ever convey. It’s all about the details, the choice of paper used, or the style pen used. It’s the art of beautifully written cursive words. It’s the beauty of watching your handwriting become thoughtful words of love, excitement or encouragement. It’s a way to show the receiver exactly what they mean to you. You took the time to find the perfect card or stationery and then thoughtfully articulated your words and feelings to someone. It’s an artistic outlet for some and a calming process for others.
Everyone has their own handwriting style, almost like an individualized fingerprint. Some styles are much more beautiful than others but it’s also a chance to let your creativity dictate your writing style. Meaning how you write, what you chose to write, or how you and others will interpret the words you’re writing. It’s a chance to get back to better days when we all were a little slower, a little more thoughtful. Not everything was a rush, and we weren’t so overwhelmed with tasks and time frames. It is an absolute fact that a handwritten note will be read thoroughly. You cannot skim the context like you can with an email and basically know what is written. You’ll read each and every word and find yourself with a feeling of a deeper connection with the sender for taking the time to send this to you. It’s much more personal than anything a computer can produce.
I can remember my great-grandmother, wearing her apron and running through her daily household schedule, taking a break when the mailman came each day at 10:45am so she could go out to the mailbox and see what he left inside. More often than not, it would be a letter from Aunt Emily from Maine or from Shirley and Walter who lived way down the tip of Cape Cod. I can remember my grandma coming back in and sitting right down on the red stool in the corner of her kitchen. She would lovingly look at the handwriting on the envelope and smile before carefully opening it, taking care not to tear it in any way despite her excitement to read the words inside. I can remember the look of pure joy on her face and real appreciation for the words she was reading and the fact that the sender took the time to articulate to her whatever it was the letter or card was intended to convey. When she was done reading it, she would put it carefully back into the envelope and slide it in her apron pocket so she could get back to her household schedule of chores. And then in the evening as she was sitting in her chair to finally rest from her busy daily life, she would have her beautiful stationary, her favorite pen (that must be where I get that from) and a TV tray in front of her and she would write her reply in her best handwriting and take her time to articulate the tale she now wanted to share. And it wasn’t always about a special occasion to talk about or a momentous moment in time, more often than not, it was simply daily life. Chores that have been accomplished or a needlepoint that was finally completed. Maybe a stain was finally removed and the recipe for removing it was being shared or a calf came in the middle of the night unexpectedly…. It’s just about life and taking the time to share it with someone you care about. Back then we didn’t have all-inclusive landline plans. If you didn’t live in the same location, you would be making a toll call. People were much more aware of expenses back then and strived to keep them down. Enter the nostalgic communication and art of letter writing.
It is still primarily used by the older generation, but it’s something the younger generating could take a cue from. I know for a fact that if Emily Post or Miss Manners herself received an Evite they would faint dead away. Miss Patricia Atchul would scoff at receiving something as tacky as an electronic note or card and immediately decide it wasn’t worthy of her time to read. And I have to say, I completely agree. How many emails do you receive daily? How many do you actual read? How many do you delete? I’ll be 50 years old this year and I have every letter and card I have ever received kept in a beautiful wooden box. Some of the senders are gone now and this is a great connection to them even if only for a moment, while other are special times I want to remember fondly. The point is I have something tangible to keep always. I’ve never printed off an email and put it in this keepsake box, regardless of what it was about.
After a few years of social distance and the way the world has changed in so many ways, I have never felt more alone than I do now. And I have a multitude of family and friends at my fingertips in any instant. But it’s also about as impersonal as you can get. There’s that feeling of a deeper connection and closeness that comes from a handwritten note or card. It’s completely personal unlike anything the Internet can provide, even in real time and that’s why it is something I am passionate about. It gives me that feeling of a personal connection and helps me feel more connected to others.
Now here’s where the Internet actually comes in handy: Thanks to the Internet we have the ability to order the most amazing things from all over the world, and this includes stationary and note cards. By utilizing places like Etsy, you can get yourself some gorgeous, personalized stationery as elegant or as plain as you’d like. Personally, I like to have a few different choices available, so I have the correct style to go with the occasion at hand. I have formal and I have casual. I have my full name printed across the top of some of my stationary while the more formal stationary consists of a beautiful calligraphy monogram. I am not a supporter of your stationary saying “From the Desk Of _______” across the top. That’s tacky. Instead opt for a simpler, more elegant choice… like your full name, initials or even just a simple but elegant border. Notecards can be simple as well with just a small, elegant picture on the front such as flowers or filigrees. The choices are as endless. Scroll through the images below to see a few examples of various types of stationary available through websites such as Etsy and Amazon. Pinterest is also another great source for inspiration and recourses.
I hope this post has inspired you to get back to a more personable time when the world was less rushed and taking the time to thoughtfully write out a letter or a card becomes second nature instead of a foreign concept. Pop online and check out the multitude of online options for stationary or if your fortunate enough to have a little boutique nearby that sells a variety of thoughtful gifts, pop in there. They’ll probably have a few different selections of blank cards or stationery. If you can afford to order something custom, I would suggest getting a formal paper and envelope set that you have specifically made with your monogram printed on the top center of the paper as well as the center of the envelope flap on the back. That will have a high impact and be quite formal. I also like to keep a set of beautiful notecards with simple pictures generally of flowers on the front and blank inside. This allows them to be customized for any occasion and is more casual than the monogramed set. I also like to keep a set of note paper with just a simple beautiful border around them. You can easily find this type of paper at stores such as Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Staples. It can be presented as formal or casual. Also, be sure to choose a beautiful pen that simply glides across your paper resulting in smooth, flawless writing. I like to use the Sharpie S-Gel pen.
If you’d like to get REALLY fancy, you can also order online a custom Wax Seal Stamp. They are available in many different options. My personal choice is for the first initial of my last name as the stamp and either purple or red wax for the seal. I love the understated elegance of the simplicity of the extravagance. It just adds another layer of luxe and formality to this beautiful art form. Try it and see for yourself. You’ll be happy you did.
XOXO – Shawn
Leave a Reply