Letters to Those We Love

Currently in society, we rely mostly on technology to communicate. Whether we call long distance relatives or snapchat our friends in group chats, most of our conversations happen via a smartphone. But honestly, sometimes a comment on someone’s post or a long text message isn’t enough.

Writing is a lost art that should be brought into practice when it comes to communicating. Not only can taking a pen to paper be healing for the soul but it is also one of the best ways to connect with others. With writing, we can let go of our insecurities and fears and just say what we want to say. Writing can be a more meaningful medium to authentically lay our thoughts out for someone.

For me, writing has always been the easiest way to say how I feel. Even when I was a little girl, I would write my parents countless letters for birthdays, special holidays or just to talk about something that I was maybe a little timid to say out loud. I feel as if I can be more vulnerable with a pen and paper at hand, rather than with typing and emojis.

I am currently a freshman in college, so I’ve spent the last month living on my own for the first time. I came to university only knowing one friend from my hometown and had no idea how the next few months of my life would turn out. At home, I had friends that were really family: people who I had spent almost everyday with for at least two years. As excited as I was to have a fresh start and explore a new city, it was sad to leave the people that made me feel so comfortable.

I have never been good at goodbyes, and I wanted to be able to tell my friends how much they meant to me before we all went our separate ways. As cheesy as it sounds, I wrote all my close friends goodbye letters. On these little pastel colored cards, I was able to reminisce on late night drives, football games, beach days and more. I felt free to express everything I’ve ever wanted to tell them—especially how their presence in my life has shaped who I am today. My friends really appreciated the letters because I was able to be open, honest, and genuine. This experience really showed me the power of words and how writing can truly convey thoughts and emotions from the author to the reader.

There’s also a beauty to the timelessness of a letter. When writing, I love knowing that how I feel right now will be documented forever. Twenty years from now, the words you wrote can be cherished forever and reread, unlike a screenshot of a text.

There isn’t a better way to tell someone exactly how you feel than writing it out. All you need is a pen and paper. Use them and tell the people in your life how special they are to you.

By Madi Esmailbeigi

UT Austin student, lover of all things television & movies, and Soulcycle enthusiast. Writes because words can change everything.