A Millennial Vs Mail

Do you ever have something in your life that you like and don’t like at the same time? Paper mail provides that sort of conundrum to me. I think writing and receiving letters is one of the most personal forms of communication there is. Perhaps not in a world before the internet and smartphones, but now, when we can text entirely in emojis and gifs, or quickly type off a few thoughts or statements in email and hit send without really stopping to think through what was said; handwritten mail holds more impact. A handwritten letter or card says that someone took (or made) time to think of the recipient and put effort into indicating that. I will always advocate for this form of personal communication no matter how much the post office keeps raising stamp prices. But here is where the conundrum is for me. There is this idea that Millennials don’t like talking on the phone and would prefer other methods of communication. I don’t know the accuracy of that, but it’s a stereotype at least. One I definitely can relate to. I don’t mind talking on the phone, especially to friends, but I do like having a text to set up that call. I like being able to chat with customer service on a website, especially when I can continue doing whatever else I am doing while waiting for a representative, instead of being on hold for minutes to hours. But I think there is a tendency to resent phone calls when not planned, as an interruption to whatever I am in the middle of. For instance, I never answer my doctor’s office when they call and I always call them back later, when I want to. The thing is, I think I carry some of that resentment towards mail as well. So much of what the mail carrier brings is junk. Then there are the bills I have to try not to lose before I pay them and then after I pay them, I have to find some place to put the records. Even cards that mean so much to me are something I have to figure out what to do with after I read them. Keep in a shoebox, display, throw away…ultimately though, I think it’s a small price to pay for personal connections made through letter writing. Now if only the notes could outnumber the junk mail. I guess I need to write more, so the good outnumbers the junk in someone else’s mailbox at least.

“Letters are above all useful as a means of expressing the ideal self; and no other method of communication is quite so good for this purpose. In letters we can reform without practice, beg without humiliation, snip and shape embarrassing experiences to the measure of our own desires.” Elizabeth Hardwick

“I love the rebelliousness of snail mail, and I love anything that can arrive with a postage stamp. There’s something about that person’s breath and hands on the letter.” Diane Lane

“Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.” Richard Hooker