Letters

This week I’ve been reading a book of letters by Diana Athill.  Instead of a Book – Letters to a Friend is a collection of letters written over a period of thirty years to the American poet Edward Field. I find it fascinating that through these letters I can see their relationship grow and have an insight into her life. 

It’s got me thinking about how we communicate now and the wonderful technology at our fingertips day or night. How many of us write letters these days?  We send emails, correspond via twitter, Facebook and text, but do we ever put pen to paper? How many of us save those snippets of conversations which are ultimately the story of our lives? 

When I'm writing I keep hard copies (I like to see the written words on a crisp, white sheet of paper) and also copies of my work on a memory stick. However, what record will there be of everything else? Sometimes I have wonderful conversations with a friend by text and all will be lost when I hit delete or change my phone.  What record will there be in years to come?  Will it all be lost when my hard drive dies, the memory sticks are misplaced or will it be left floating amongst the infinite space of online back up? 

It really does seem that we live in a throwaway society, even to the point of throwing away these wonderful prompts that can instantly bring a memory to mind or tell those we leave behind something more intimate about the lives we have led.  Surely our lives are worth more than that?

So even if you think you haven’t much to say I encourage you to pick up pen and paper today and write a letter to someone. It doesn’t matter who;  it could be a friend you haven’t seen in a while, a loved one you are missing or even your partner who is sitting across from you as you read this.  Tell them about your day. Tell them what made you laugh and what made you cry.  Tell them anything you want to; just write.  At the end ask them to write back to you.

Post the letter to them (you know, put it in one of those red things which often sit at the end of the street).  Yes, I know all about the cost of stamps but imagine for a moment when it is delivered and how they will feel to receive this letter written just for them.  There is something magical about an envelope dropping through the letter box; an envelope that doesn’t contain a bill or a bank statement but a story, your story. 

I hope I've inspired you.  Please do let me know your thoughts.

 

If you’re curious about the book I’m reading by Diana Athill you can find it here:

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/6787/Instead-of-a-Book-Letters-to-a-Friend-by-Diana-Athill.html