In these days of instant digital communication, a handwritten letter is as special as it is rare. Think about the last time you shuffled through your regular mail with its bills, fliers, and advertisements and in the midst of all this usual fare, you found a letter written by hand. You stopped for a moment, didn’t you? Before opening it, you likely held the letter to feel its weight and texture, perhaps admiring the stamp, as you curiously looked for who sent it.
The impact of handwritten letters
Why do handwritten letters have such an impact on us? Maybe it’s because we know powerful emotions lie within. We all have them, those special missives tucked neatly away. Years, even decades, later, we pull them out and study the slant of the cursive or relish the words, whether it’s a “Bravo, I am proud of you,” “You’ve made a difference in my life,” or “We love you very, very much.” The words may hit you with a wave of nostalgia as you remember the experience surrounding the sentiment.
I know as a young boy, my father would often encourage me to write, especially when I was off on a trip. I thought it was simply to catch up and let my parents know that I was doing well. Looking back, I realize what a great habit it is to instill in a young boy.
Feel-good benefits at your fingertips
Turns out handwriting a letter, especially one sharing feelings of gratitude, has serious health benefits. A wealth of research confirms that letter writing not only improves the recipient’s mood, but the writer’s mood as well. It even improves brain health.
Compared to typing on a keyboard, writing by hand forces you to slow down, allowing you to be more reflective and express thoughts and feelings that really matter.
The same is true when comparing handwriting to texting or emailing. We tend to email or text a short message when we just want to know something. It’s very reactive. Handwriting is a more thoughtful process. It forces you to take it word by word, rather than shoot off a quick blast of text.
Activate your brain with pen and paper
Although it takes as few as three fingers to hold a pen, your whole brain is at work. Handwriting activates a distinct neural pathway, etched deeper with practice, which is linked to better learning and better memory. Add doodles, arrows or other drawings to a handwritten note to boost your brain activity even more.
A powerful habit for success
My father kept a journal throughout his life. In fact, his journals with page after page of his beautiful cursive writing fill the Nutrilite archives. They date back to when he was a young teen writing about girls and poetry. Later, his entries centered on his work and his observations of the world around him as he traveled.
Send gratitude to those around you
A recent study published in the 2018 September issue of Psychological Science reveals that we may underestimate the positive effect a letter of gratitude has on the receiver, and thus may be hesitant to send. It’s just one more reason to take some time and write to a special person in your life. Write to a family member, a friend, or anyone else who has been on your mind. Don’t forget your customers. Not only can writing letters of gratitude to customers help your business grow, everyone feels good in the process. You can’t beat that!
Grab your favorite pen, colorful pencils or whatever tool 
that inspires you, and take a moment to reflect, write and draw. The results are well worth it.
Cheers,
