The Romance of Paper Letters

While the Internet makes writing letters on paper seem both slow and unnecessary, there remains many advantages to paper-based communications in personal relationships. In fact, I am a huge advocate of the virtues of snail mail letters since I started dating an archaeologist. Because she goes on digs in remote places, we often don't have the benefit of Internet communications when she is away and much of our courtship was initially conducted through paper letters.

Here are five reasons why you should consider writing paper letters to the people who are important to you.

Letters give you an opportunity to really listen to what the other person is saying. Because immediate response is not available, you will read paper letters with more attentiveness and let their content sink in before penning a reply.

Taking the time to write letters by hand shows a type of emotional care and consideration that is often absent in our fast paced modern society. Paper letters say you've taken time out to focus on this person who is far away from you.

Paper letters by virtue of being physical objects are excellent keepsakes and they allow you to communicate with more than just words. Paper letters present opportunities for drawing, enclosing pressed flowers or other old fashioned graces. Paper letters are like a gift that cost you nothing other than time and attention to write.

Exchanging paper letters is an act of faith. When my partner is far away on a dig, we often receive each other's letters out of order, so writing becomes about what we want to share, not about getting approval in a response. The act of waiting for a letter and the joy of receiving one is a constant reminder that while we are separated we are both still thinking of each other.

Paper letters provide a unique environment to discuss your feelings in a way that may at first seem intimidating in person. My partner and I decided to move in together over the course of long distance paper based letters. Using paper letters gave us both the space to deal with our intial reactions while also eventually making clear and deliberate decisions.

While paper letters seem to run the risk of being one of those things about to pass out of the world (does anyone even study penmanship anymore?) they can be both romantic and practical, and I'll keep sending them for as long as the post office will let me!