Snail mail has fallen out of fashion. And, some might say, for some very good reasons. New media is cooler, sleeker, faster, and cheaper. Envelopes are a hassle (not to mention a paper-cut hazard). Letters take too much time to write. And I’m never sure where I put the stamps.
Of course, we also feel wary of mail because our mailboxes don’t contain much good news. They’re crammed with magazines, catalogs we don’t remember signing up for, and less-than-thoughtful notices aimed at the “Current Resident.” At best, we might stumble across a strangely endearing postcard reminding us of our upcoming dentist appointment.
So is there any reason to consider taking back snail mail?
Actually, the very reasons that make writing letters so daunting make them so valuable. And why receiving a piece of snail mail can mean so much.
- Letters take time to write. If you receive a letter, someone spent time thinking about you. Let’s be real: it takes at least a half-hour to put a pen to paper, locate the ever-elusive envelope and stamp, and find a mail depository.
- Letters are physical. You can put them on your walls, in a shoebox, or keep them under your pillow. Maybe it’s not safely stored "in the cloud," but the physicality of letters certainly has a sentimental value. And really, how many emails have you ever printed out?
- Envelopes don’t need to contain only words. You can send photos, small trinkets, tickets, and drawings. Have you ever heard of mail art?
Just because you communicate with someone via digital media doesn’t preclude a relationship via snail mail, too. Do you only communicate with your best friends via Twitter? Facebook? Our grandparents might have exclusively used letters, but our media repertoire has expanded. Learning how to add snail mail might enhance our ability to communicate, not slow it down.
This is because media works in tandem with other media. Text messaging is ideal for certain types of communications, just as email is ideal for others. Snail mail has a place – not as the fastest or most flashy media – but sometimes for the most personal messages.
So why not try it out? Mail a friend a mix CD, get a penpal in another country, or just send your grandma a real thank-you note for that Christmas sweater. Just don’t fill your envelopes with glitter, okay?