So I’ve been mulling over what could potentially be good things to write about in the New Year. You know, “themes” if you will. Well one thing that I landed on was posts that focus on forgotten ways of the Gentleman that may possibly be beneficial to bring back into the modern redefining of the term.
Easy prey that came to mind was the forgotten art of writing letters. No one does it anymore really. Tell-tale signs include:
- The shape the U.S. Postal Service is in…
- The fact that getting rid of cursive handwriting from school curriculum is actually being considered…
- That writing like “Thiiis iiS SoShUlllllY AcCEpTuhBULL” (vexes me)…
People used to write songs about letters (two of my personal favorites include Aaliyah’s “4 Page Letter” and 112′s “Your Letter“). And not only that, there were real world benefits to writing letters:
Your overall communication skills improved (I don’t feel like hunting down the research, but it’s out there)…
Your personality shaped as you explored complex thought through written word…
And hey, some Ladies like it (just being honest).
I’m a fan of a series of Gentleman books written by John Bridges and Bryan Curtis. They typically cover general issues the Gentleman faces, but one particular work they created specifically deals with writing letters. It’s called, A Gentleman Pens a Note and has a brief little synopsis like so…
A gentleman knows the importance of effectively expressing, in three or four sentences, his thanks for a gift or for a job interview, conveying his sympathy, or saying he is sorry. A Gentleman Pens a Note takes away the fear and discomfort a man experiences when faced with the task of writing a note by giving instruction and example in the proven style of the other GentleManners books.
A Gentleman Pens a Note contains examples of more than 40 different handwritten notes, as well as sentences to avoid. It also includes aphorisms and sidebars on subjects such as stationery, pens, and pre-printed notes.
It can be dry if not applied. I promise you that if you actually use the knowledge shared in this book, its advice is indispensable in this day and age. You should check it out if you have a chance. It’s a small book (literally) of 127 pages and a nice 5 x 5 inch slender form.
I suppose a modern form of this forgotten art is simply sending e-mails or Facebook messages to someone else, but I don’t think it’s the same. Even though I really enjoy writing on this blog each day, what you’re reading on this screen is no substitute for the simple satisfaction of getting something handwritten in the mail.
Maybe I’m just old-fashioned.
How about this, a challenge. Send personal e-mails of Facebook Messages to 3 of your friends, and then send personal letters by mail to 3 completely different friends. Heck – family members can be thrown in here too. See which of the groups is more happy/makes a bigger deal about your communication. I can almost guarantee that the people who get a handwritten letter will be a little bit more pleased with your sentiment (even if it’s much shorter).
I’m not saying “Down with digital communication!” or anything like that — I’m just not that archaic and it goes against the point of this site being for the MODERN Gent… I’m just saying a little return to form never hurts anyone, and may in fact distinguish you from the rest.
Think about it.
Try the challenge and let me know about it in the Comment Section below. Share any other thoughts you have on the topic below as well.
Peace and thanks for reading.
