As I prepare for a new adventure one of the things that I wanted to do was buy some decent paper and write letters to friends and family.Â
   I went into one of the big stores and I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Apparently only wedding invites are really the only big thing people send in the mail these days. There wasn’t much for nice stationery to craft a letter. I did find some and managed to find some envelopes as well, but it wasn’t what I remember as a kid. Back when people my age had pen pals there was all kinds of fancy, fun stationery out there.Â
   Although that was also at a time that cursive was taught in school as well. This still blows my mind; that cursive isn’t taught in school anymore. In fact when I was coaching, I had the girls do positivity journals. They weren’t mandatory. But I thought it was a fun way to try to build confidence and it allowed me to get to know the girls (who liked participating in it) a little bit better.
   The one day I wrote in the journals in cursive, and my cursive isn’t the neatest. In fact I’ve always wished I had nice handwriting, but as hard as I try it remains itty bitty and narrow. I’m sure handwriting analysis has something to say about it, but I digress.Â
   The day that I wrote in cursive in their books I had some come up to me and explain they couldn’t read it. I knew it wasn’t taught in school and had attempted to print, but I didn’t have much time and handwriting just flows so nicely when you’re trying to get things done.Â
  It’s a lost art form really... and that’s coming from someone who isn’t very artful with theirs.Â
   In my opinion kids are missing out. Not only on learning cursive - after all what if their grandmother writes them a note, in a card, or a little letter - but they’re also missing out on mail and letters.
   The excitement of receiving a piece of mail was always warranted. Who was it from and what did it say?!
   Being that it’s tangible too, it’s something from that person. Something they put effort and thought into. Something that if they made a mistake, did they write you the letter again, scratch it out, or did they have whiteout? It’s something that makes you feel special.Â
   Emails, texts, and any form of social media is nice. It’s instant messaging. But, with the instantaneousness of it all, there’s just something missing. It’s nice they take the time to message you, but there’s a very real difference between receiving an email and receiving a letter in the mail.Â
   When I left Carlyle I wrote a couple of people some notes and received a few in turn. One of which I have packed away in my things to go with me on my new adventure. It’s a heart felt card; one that’s encouraging and full of support, and was written out with love.Â
   When you send something in the mail though, because we’re so used to the instant world that has developed that we live in, it can be difficult to wait for that person to get it. But, in my opinion, it is by far a more exciting means of communication than an email message.
