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Know someone away at school? Write them a letter!

By Elizabeth Cottrell

“I got a letter!”

Facebook post from my niece about the letter I sent her


The volume of handwritten notes and letters has unfortunately gone down in recent years, but doesn’t that make them all the more special?

My niece’s first week at college coincided with her birthday, so I decided to write her a letter instead of just sending a card. It made my day to see this on her Facebook page a few days later (see post screenshot above).

Don’t you want to make your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews happy like this?

It’s so easy! Get out that pen and paper and just write them a note. And if you have to call their parents to get their mailing address, you’ll make their day too. Of course, you’ll get a lot of points if you tuck the note into a box of cookies, but I don’t want to cause trouble :-).

Did you ever receive a letter that lifted your spirits when you were away from home? Please share in the comments below, or come join the conversation on Heartspoken’s Facebook page.

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Comments

  1. Helena Bowers says

    September 29, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    When we first moved away from home, my Dad used to send my son letters all the time. It was always exciting for him to know that his Papa hadn’t forgot him just because we didn’t live there anymore.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Cottrell says

      September 30, 2012 at 8:50 am

      Oh, Helena, I can identify with this so much! I still have wonderful letters from my grandfather filled with precious memories and great wisdom. Thank you for visiting and sharing this with us.

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth Cottrell says

    September 6, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    It doesn’t matter one bit that someone is in the same city. I used to write an occasional note to my kids and tuck it in their lunchbox. You’re right about the impact coming from the fact that someone thought of us and did something about it!

    Reply
  3. Karen S. Elliott says

    September 6, 2012 at 8:43 am

    I can’t remember when I received a hand-written letter (or even a typed letter), from someone. It was probably from my mom, and she’s been gone over eight years. There is something about a letter, or even a notecard, to remind us that we are warmly thought of. Even though the grandsons can’t read well (one can, first grade, the other can’t yet, just in kindergarten), I think I will sit down next week and do just that! Why should it matter that we are in the same city and I can see them any time I want?

    Reply
  4. Barbara Forte Abate says

    September 6, 2012 at 6:38 am

    The day after graduating high school my upside down family situation had me moving away from my home town. It was sad and yet exciting, but the most marvelous thing was that over the next several years I received an abundance of letters from friends from home. Even those who hadn’t especially been my *nearest and dearest* over the course of growing up together in a small town, at a distance, and in light of their uplifting and thoughtful letters, became my *nearest and dearest.* Needless to say, those letters were, and remain, much treasured.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Cottrell says

      September 6, 2012 at 6:50 pm

      Barbara, I remember, too, that those letters I received when I was away from home were always the highlight of my day. I used to write a lot of letters back and forth to boyfriends too, and I recall many of those were deep and philosophical (probably mushy too). I should have kept more letters from the past.

      Reply
  5. Esther Miller says

    September 5, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Did you ever receive a letter that lifted your spirits when you were away from home?

    Oh yeah! Every Tuesday. I was only 30 miles from home but it might as well have been 3000. My mother wrote to me a little bit every day. On Monday she would mail the letter and start a new one. Every Tuesday I had a chronicle of the past week at home. Mother died before I finished college. Her letters, in her beautiful, award-winning handwriting, bring her back to me as nothing else can.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Cottrell says

      September 5, 2012 at 11:05 am

      Oh wow, what a wonderful legacy!

      I love the idea of writing a little something every day and then mailing it. In this era of cell phones, that may not work for some, but it could be terrific for others. Thanks so much for sharing this, Esther!

      Reply

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Elizabeth Cottrell, aka RiverwoodWriter

Elizabeth H. Cottrell

I am a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and blogger called to encourage readers to strengthen the bonds of faith, family, and friends and to cultivate the joy and impact of personal, handwritten notes and letters. More Info.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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