The Art of Correspondence

I’ve been reading some good old Benjamin Franklin recently and have been appreciating how he kept up such a faithful correspondence with so many of his friends. We could all use some old-fashioned correspondence. We could all use some deliberate and purposeful communication designed for establishing mutual understanding instead of the cheap, often contentious, and frequently vain social media spatter. I’m not saying it we need to pick up a quill and piece of parchment, but I think there is value that we’ve forgotten about in long-form individual-to-individual written communication.

Here are some reasons you should invite someone close to you to open a correspondence:

Privacy over Publicity

Perhaps there is something to be said for keeping parts of your life out of the spotlight. We know that fame so often breeds vanity in our celebrities. What can we expect when social media makes us all “famous” to each other? We now do our alms and everything else before each other, to be seen. Perhaps we’d learn humility if we practiced more privacy.

Independent Thought

When you’re writing as an individual, to an individual, you represent your own individual thought. There’s a reason that a “man-to-man” conversation is one that is synonymous with frank and honest discussion. Is not honesty so often lacking in today’s communication? An honest letter is worth 328 tweets, 219 Facebook posts, and 453 YouTube comments.

Empathy over Envy

We know too well that social media can cultivate comparison and provide fertile ground for weeds of envy.

Correspondence is designed to establish mutual understanding. It’s the ultimate long-term heart-to-heart. It’s a conversation that can focus you outside of yourself.

How to Open a Correspondence

Simple: Email someone or write a letter by hand. Tell them you would like to open a correspondence with them to understand their opinions, hear more about their life, keep up a friendship you value, or whatever! Make a habit of responding thoughtfully.

Correspondence will help you facilitate diversity of thought, honesty, and empathy. Maybe correspondence is just what we all need to start communicating again.

Originally published at https://roughingit.substack.com.