On the last Friday is Writing day, we discussed the (almost) lost art of letter writing.  Coming into the event, I didn’t expect to find writing very prevalent among a younger demographic in college students.  What I didn’t remember is that military members are restricted to only writing and receiving letters while they are on duty.  Hearing testimony from Ryan and another student about the impact receiving letters had on them while they were in training gave me an appreciation for letters that I hadn’t had before.

I can understand the thrill that accompanies receiving a letter; it is like when someone you haven’t heard from in a while gives you a phone call or sends you a message.  The difference with letters is that it is only a one way correspondence.  This is why letters are so unique.  A letter gives a person the ability to think about what they are writing, thoughtfully express themselves, and give the other person the opportunity to do the same.  While letter writing is certainly a slower mode of communication than what is available in today’s society, there is still value in writing letters because it allows for the expression of sentiment that is more difficult using other mediums.

Following the discussion, I took a letter from one of the bins and plan to send it.  I’m not exactly sure whom I will send it to or what I will say, but I do know that I will be able to say it clearly, concisely, and with no loss of sentiment over a letter.