The Art of Writing a Letter / myLot

https://pixabay.com/photos/lily-of-the-valley-may-nostalgia-4169440/

Gouverneur, New York

May 6, 2019 11:59am CST

When I came across this image on Pixabay my mind turned to the art of writing letters. I can remember being taught how to write a proper letter when I was just a young girl. It seems today the art of it all has been left behind. When I was teaching the students could simply not understand why you would go to all the trouble. They felt you simply picked up a phone or turn on a computer and get in touch with anyone they wanted. Why go to all the trouble to write a proper letter? I miss the anticipation of receiving, opening, and reading a letter from a friend, relative, or acquaintance from far away. Do you ever sit down and write a letter or have you too succumbed to the computer or telephone way?

9 people like this

11 responses

John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

6 May 19

It's a lost art. A personal touch gone for the sterile impersonal tech abbreviations.

2 people like this

Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

I agree. It used to costs a ton to make those long distance calls that we now make for free. And email, well, there was no such thing years ago.

1 person likes this

Pfarelo

@Mulidi (1979)

• Cruz Bay, Virgin Islands (U.S.)

6 May 19

I missed those days.but technology make things easily for us. I succumbed to the computer or phone

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Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

I miss them too. A phone call or email takes little effort. But a letter shows they care enough to take the time to write.

Kevin

@excellence7 (3647)

• Mauritius

6 May 19

I can relate to what you feel. In fact I am quite young. I was a kid in the 90s but nevertheless, I have learned the value of letter writing at school, from my family, friends and relatives. As much as technology has invaded our lives, I still think that putting pen to paper is literally unbeatable. The feeling of writing letters, putting them in envelopes and posting them cannot be fulfilled with emails or text messages. You rightly said, it's an art.

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Kevin

@excellence7 (3647)

• Mauritius

9 May 19

@HazySue That's a strong one: "There is nothing like getting a letter in the mail" You are totally right.

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Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

I think part of what has happened is that school no longer teaches how to write a letter. If they don't teach it the kids don't know how. There is nothing like getting a letter in the mail. Getting an email is just not the same.

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (111190)

• El Paso, Texas

7 May 19

I never liked writing letters, I wasn't good at it and I can't recall any teachers that bothered to try to teach it.

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (111190)

• El Paso, Texas

10 May 19

I wonder how a teacher would have taught that skill @HazySue I recall a teacher that tried to teach my class how to write poems and that went over like a floating lead balloon, some things can't be taught, you have to be born with that talent.

Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

In that case I don't wonder why letters were not in your past. If you haven't been shown why would you write one.

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LindaOH

@LindaOHio (156271)

• United States

6 May 19

I don't write letters; but I always send cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and sympathy. I hate receiving an e-card for my birthday!

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Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

It does seem so much more personal when it is a card that you can hold in your hand.

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LindaOH

@LindaOHio (156271)

• United States

9 May 19

@HazySue I like to receive a card rather than an e-card.

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José Valera

@jvicentevalera (13671)

• Santiago, Chile

6 May 19

Well, I don't think I would do it at present. I would not dare so say it is something that's in the past, because I bet there are a few people who still write letters, but I guess I would just whatsapp the person, and that's it!

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Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

It does seem to have become a thing of the past. According to the comments it look that way.

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José Valera

@jvicentevalera (13671)

• Santiago, Chile

9 May 19

@HazySue That's great. I guess it depends on the person, age, etc. Personally I would love to use other technological tools to send my messages. It's quicker for me.

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M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

6 May 19

I used to write a lot of letters. Yet, I've got arthritis in my knuckles and this means that my handwriting isn't good any more or rather worse than before. So I rarely do that now.

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Susan

@HazySue (39264)

• Gouverneur, New York

9 May 19

I used to write letters too. Now days it seems I am going the easy way more and more of a phone call or an email.