Send That Letter
That’s right. Go ahead and send that old-fashioned handwritten letter.
Maybe to a person who just had a terminal diagnosis.
Or to congratulate a colleague on a promotion.
A friend told me recently that she kept a note from her former boss outlining how he viewed her talents and potential as a leader.
She reads it occasionally to remind herself, despite sexism in the workplace and internal self-doubting messages, that she is a highly competent leader who continues to make considerable contributions in her sphere of influence.
We all carry such letters.
I have a small box of letters gathered over the decades from my parents, former patients, and leaders I have coached. I read them occasionally to celebrate the past and remind myself how others valued my person and contribution.
Although handwritten letters seem to be an artifact of the past, consider the impact they will have on the recipients in today’s world of instant electronic communications.
The great letter writer of the previous generation was Eleanor Roosevelt.
Reflect on the impact of her communication to the Daughters of the American Revolution. She wrote to resign from their organization after they refused to allow singer Marian Anderson, an African American, to perform in their venue in Washington, D.C.
Instead, Ms. Roosevelt lobbied for Ms. Anderson to perform a free recital on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a crowd of 75,000 people.
Her letter and act put the issue of racial discrimination at the front and center of the national debate.
Imagine the impact of a letter you write, especially by hand, and send through the U.S. or other postal service to a co-worker, family member, or friend. This will be especially true if that letter has a positive message focusing on the person’s potential or possibilities.
I remember a time when I gathered with a group of socially conscious people and wrote handwritten letters to the prime minister of South Africa advocating for the release of political prisoners like Nelson Mandela.
I don’t know whether the letters were read.
That letter did not change the world. However, it propelled me into a deeper appreciation of social consciousness.
I can do no better to conclude with the quote from Christopher Hitchins, who wrote in his memoir “Mortality.”
“If you know anybody who might benefit from a letter or a visit, do not postpone the writing or the making of it. The difference will almost certainly be more than you have calculated.”
Your letter will matter.
