Reviving The Handwritten Note
With technology at our fingertips, handwriting a thank-you, a support message, a thanks for
your business note seems pretty old-fashioned. Or, does it? When was the last time you
received a handwritten thank-you note from a friend or business colleague? Likely, this meant
more than a hastily dashed e-mail. Perhaps you even saved it.
Perhaps you recall having to write thank-you’s to relatives for presents, and how tedious it
seemed, particularly if you weren’t enamored with the gift. Then, there was a handwritten
message from Grandpop and a pack of collectible sport cards. That thank-you was much easier
to write, as he shared something in common with you and told you a story about when he
played baseball.
If your supervisor notices the extra hours you’ve devoted to an important project, and sends
you a handwritten note of appreciation, it makes all those hours seem worthwhile. They
recognized you were eager to see this enterprise take off. That they took the time to affirm
your talent and dedication is not all that common.
I’ve kept one letter from a friend for over 30 years.
I make the case that handwritten notes should be revived. I once received a note from a friend
that was so encouraging that I’ve kept it with other important papers for more than 30 years.
The same holds true for a handwritten message from a supervisor for whom I was writing a
paper. They were pleased with the result, and I was more than a little surprised when I received a
handwritten note expressing appreciation for a technical paper they were to submit. In the
closing, I was told I would receive co-author status. That was a keeper as well.
Why do you think historians pour over handwritten messages or documents when researching
an individual? What might a business colleague say about receiving a handwritten note
thanking them for their customer loyalty? And does a handwritten note to a favorite person not
hold more weight than a text message?
I think its time to revive handwritten notes. And, if your handwriting is abysmal, check out:
https://www.handwrytten.com