If you’re not already writing letters to your long-distance partner, you should be. It’s a twist to incorporate into your communication repertoire — texting and FaceTime sometimes just don’t cut it. In an age where so many young people are using new technology to keep in touch, remembering old tactics can be special.
When my boyfriend and I decided we were going to try long-distance, we agreed that there had to be some ground rules and new traditions to keep us feeling like we are on the same page. One of those new traditions became letter writing.
He likes it because it’s a physical piece of paper that he receives in the mail. Something about knowing that just a few days earlier (or weeks, if you’re mailing it to Northwestern…they don’t call it snail mail for nothing!) I was touching it and writing that letter at my desk in my dorm room hundreds of miles away makes him feel closer to me.
I like it because it allows me to get in touch with my old-fashioned side. The art of letter writing is something that few practice these days, and I believe that that’s a mistake. There is definitely something special about writing something down and knowing the other person won’t react to it immediately, unlike when you’re communicating via text.
Another aspect of writing letters is delayed gratification. My partner and I agreed that we wouldn’t talk about our letters outside of letting each other know when they have been sent and received. We do this because it allows a whole separate world to be created. We talk about things in letters that we’ve never brought up in person or on the phone. So, when he texts me that a letter has been sent (basically just notifying me to keep an eye out for it), it’s something I begin to look forward to. This can help fill the long periods of time we go without seeing each other.
So, if you’re looking for a way to keep life together exciting even when you’re separated, writing letters could be the answer. Channel your inner Nicholas Sparks and get to work!
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