Letters as memory..

One of the best gifts I received at my wedding was a Lamy pen. My husband’s friend, Shirin, came up to the stage and told us it was for me (not him). Along with it, she handed me a letter she had written, sharing how happy she was that all three of us now shared a mutual love of stationery. I still have that letter safely tucked away, and every time I revisit it, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Another friend of mine, Ankush, whom I met at a camp, once sent me a long handwritten letter on my birthday. In it, he wrote about how he had consciously decided to keep his friends close by writing to them regularly and also about how he saw in my eyes a spark when I was explaining the brush pen strokes to him at the camp (He was actually one of the first few people who encouraged me to pursue calligraphy more seriously.)

And over the years, there have been many others whose letters I’ve carefully preserved in a special drawer meant only for them.

It’s not as though people haven’t said beautiful things to me over texts or DMs. I’m sure I’ve even starred or screenshot some of those messages. But somehow, I don’t remember them in quite the same way I remember my letters.

Which left me wondering, why do letters leave such a deep impact on us? My guess is:

1. Maybe because they take effort. Holding a handwritten letter reminds us that even in the age of instant messaging, someone took the time to write something specially for us.

2. They are tangible. We can smell the paper, feel the ink, and store them in a special space.

3. They evoke memory. Rereading a letter takes us back to the exact moment and feeling of receiving it.
   

I’d love to know if a handwritten letter has ever stayed with you for years. Or maybe this is your sign to write one to someone you cherish.. :) <3

Love,

Mahak