Letters

I love writing letters. I don’t do it often enough, but I have always loved the act of writing by hand and sending and receiving letters. I am actual pen pals with my doctoral professor/advisor. We write real letters delivered via snail mail and have sort of tacitly agreed that we won’t email unless a reply is time sensitive.

Awhile ago, I read something (that I now cannot find) suggesting that there is a Hindu belief that emotion comes out through our hands. Therefore, we can actually release emotions through writing, physically. I have to admit that resonates with me—it’s why to me journaling feels so cathartic and letters so intimate.

Esther Perel has suggested before on some podcast episode or another than people can hand write letters, and then leave them ritualistically in a place that held meaning for that relationship or situation, and then actually be free of those emotions.

I have a little time over the summer, so I may give this a go. I think I’d start with my mom and brother…

Day 152.