it’s 1987 and I’m in college our track team has just flown to Richmond Virginia
team has just flown to Richmond Virginia
team has just flown to Richmond Virginia where our coaches from it’s late one
where our coaches from it’s late one
where our coaches from it’s late one afternoon and the team’s outside playing
afternoon and the team’s outside playing
afternoon and the team’s outside playing stickball I have no desire to
stickball I have no desire to
stickball I have no desire to participate so I wander into the house
participate so I wander into the house
participate so I wander into the house and sitting there is my coaches
and sitting there is my coaches
and sitting there is my coaches grandfather and he’s all alone I strike
grandfather and he’s all alone I strike
grandfather and he’s all alone I strike up a conversation with them and the next
up a conversation with them and the next
up a conversation with them and the next thing you know were laughing for some
thing you know were laughing for some
thing you know were laughing for some time he talks about his life on the farm
time he talks about his life on the farm
time he talks about his life on the farm I talk about my life in California and
I talk about my life in California and
I talk about my life in California and lessons that we’ve both learned finally
lessons that we’ve both learned finally
lessons that we’ve both learned finally it’s time to leave and life carried on
it’s time to leave and life carried on
it’s time to leave and life carried on ten years later on a Thursday afternoon
ten years later on a Thursday afternoon
ten years later on a Thursday afternoon I’m going through my mail and I open a
I’m going through my mail and I open a
I’m going through my mail and I open a handwritten letter from coach Russell
handwritten letter from coach Russell
handwritten letter from coach Russell he’s never written me before I read
he’s never written me before I read
he’s never written me before I read through his note and he lets me know how
through his note and he lets me know how
through his note and he lets me know how much it meant to him that I spent time
much it meant to him that I spent time
much it meant to him that I spent time with his grandfather his act of letting
with his grandfather his act of letting
with his grandfather his act of letting me know how much that meant to him all
me know how much that meant to him all
me know how much that meant to him all those years ago has impacted me greatly
those years ago has impacted me greatly
those years ago has impacted me greatly in fact I haven’t forgotten it to this
in fact I haven’t forgotten it to this
in fact I haven’t forgotten it to this day the simple gesture of a handwritten
day the simple gesture of a handwritten
day the simple gesture of a handwritten letter can actually change lives it did
letter can actually change lives it did
letter can actually change lives it did mine and I’m not alone we all have this
mine and I’m not alone we all have this
mine and I’m not alone we all have this power inside of us and the more I
power inside of us and the more I
power inside of us and the more I thought about it I realized unlike
thought about it I realized unlike
thought about it I realized unlike training for an athletic competition
training for an athletic competition
training for an athletic competition sweating digging deep competing the
sweating digging deep competing the
sweating digging deep competing the power to change a life can start easily
power to change a life can start easily
power to change a life can start easily with pen and paper handwritten letters
with pen and paper handwritten letters
with pen and paper handwritten letters are a gift no matter who you are letters
are a gift no matter who you are letters
are a gift no matter who you are letters change children’s lives children need
change children’s lives children need
change children’s lives children need handwritten letters according to
handwritten letters according to
handwritten letters according to child education expert sue Palmer author
child education expert sue Palmer author
child education expert sue Palmer author of toxic childhood she said if children
of toxic childhood she said if children
of toxic childhood she said if children do not write and receive letters they
do not write and receive letters they
do not write and receive letters they miss out on key developmental benefits
miss out on key developmental benefits
miss out on key developmental benefits the effort of writing painstakingly
the effort of writing painstakingly
the effort of writing painstakingly maneuvering the pencil across the page
maneuvering the pencil across the page
maneuvering the pencil across the page thinking of the best words to convey a
thinking of the best words to convey a
thinking of the best words to convey a message struggling with spelling and
message struggling with spelling and
message struggling with spelling and punctuation is worth the effort because
punctuation is worth the effort because
punctuation is worth the effort because it’s through that practice that we truly
it’s through that practice that we truly
it’s through that practice that we truly become literate and literacy is the
become literate and literacy is the
become literate and literacy is the hallmark of human civilization letters
hallmark of human civilization letters
hallmark of human civilization letters change our lives for the better our
change our lives for the better our
change our lives for the better our health is better because of handwritten
health is better because of handwritten
health is better because of handwritten letters we’re busier than ever stresses
letters we’re busier than ever stresses
letters we’re busier than ever stresses on the rise I know that for me
on the rise I know that for me
on the rise I know that for me personally I find writing a letter to be
personally I find writing a letter to be
personally I find writing a letter to be therapeutic unplugged no electronics
therapeutic unplugged no electronics
therapeutic unplugged no electronics involved it slows me down and how nice
involved it slows me down and how nice
involved it slows me down and how nice is it that we can just take a few
is it that we can just take a few
is it that we can just take a few minutes out of our busy day to let
minutes out of our busy day to let
minutes out of our busy day to let someone know that we’re thinking of them
someone know that we’re thinking of them
someone know that we’re thinking of them our brains are better studies have
our brains are better studies have
our brains are better studies have revealed an association between writing
revealed an association between writing
revealed an association between writing by hand and brain and cognitive
by hand and brain and cognitive
by hand and brain and cognitive development enhancing neural activity
development enhancing neural activity
development enhancing neural activity more than typing can it’s also been
more than typing can it’s also been
more than typing can it’s also been determined that learning cursive is an
determined that learning cursive is an
determined that learning cursive is an important tool for cognitive development
important tool for cognitive development
important tool for cognitive development pretty much everything else is better
pretty much everything else is better
pretty much everything else is better off to science has linked expressive
off to science has linked expressive
off to science has linked expressive writing to better mood reduce stress and
writing to better mood reduce stress and
writing to better mood reduce stress and an improved overall sense of well-being
letters change the world we’re a better
letters change the world we’re a better more connected world with handwritten
more connected world with handwritten
more connected world with handwritten letters yes we have instant
letters yes we have instant
letters yes we have instant communication with technology but
communication with technology but
communication with technology but there’s something about real
there’s something about real
there’s something about real relationships that can be built through
relationships that can be built through
relationships that can be built through handwritten letters long after they are
handwritten letters long after they are
handwritten letters long after they are written and receive letters live on to
written and receive letters live on to
written and receive letters live on to be read appreciated and treasured
be read appreciated and treasured
be read appreciated and treasured unfortunately not everyone realizes this
unfortunately not everyone realizes this
unfortunately not everyone realizes this statistics paint a grim picture for
statistics paint a grim picture for
statistics paint a grim picture for handwritten letters
handwritten letters
handwritten letters according to the united states postal
according to the united states postal
according to the united states postal service the number of letters have
service the number of letters have
service the number of letters have declined from have declined by more than
declined from have declined by more than
declined from have declined by more than half over the last 15 years dropping
half over the last 15 years dropping
half over the last 15 years dropping from 268 million in nineteen ninety to a
from 268 million in nineteen ninety to a
from 268 million in nineteen ninety to a hundred and forty eight million in 2014
hundred and forty eight million in 2014
hundred and forty eight million in 2014 that means generally speaking we are now
that means generally speaking we are now
that means generally speaking we are now receiving one letter a day versus three
receiving one letter a day versus three
receiving one letter a day versus three the problem with these numbers are that
the problem with these numbers are that
the problem with these numbers are that we don’t know what kind of letters they
we don’t know what kind of letters they
we don’t know what kind of letters they are and I’ll assume they aren’t
are and I’ll assume they aren’t
are and I’ll assume they aren’t handwritten I don’t care what statistics
handwritten I don’t care what statistics
handwritten I don’t care what statistics say handwritten letters are not a lost
say handwritten letters are not a lost
say handwritten letters are not a lost art they are sacred they are timeless
art they are sacred they are timeless
art they are sacred they are timeless and they can never be replaced which
and they can never be replaced which
and they can never be replaced which means you have the power to give a gift
means you have the power to give a gift
means you have the power to give a gift to someone that can change their life
to someone that can change their life
to someone that can change their life one of the most beautiful sentiments
one of the most beautiful sentiments
one of the most beautiful sentiments that expresses this so clearly came to
that expresses this so clearly came to
that expresses this so clearly came to me from someone I’ve never met she
me from someone I’ve never met she
me from someone I’ve never met she participated in a letter writing group
participated in a letter writing group
participated in a letter writing group for one of my closest friends Alexandria
for one of my closest friends Alexandria
for one of my closest friends Alexandria wrote a handwritten letter moves us
wrote a handwritten letter moves us
wrote a handwritten letter moves us because it has within it a little spark
because it has within it a little spark
because it has within it a little spark of the person sending it it’s like a
of the person sending it it’s like a
of the person sending it it’s like a little time capsule of emotion who
little time capsule of emotion who
little time capsule of emotion who doesn’t want a little time capsule of
doesn’t want a little time capsule of
doesn’t want a little time capsule of emotion that’s just beautiful I didn’t
emotion that’s just beautiful I didn’t
emotion that’s just beautiful I didn’t understand the power of that until I
understand the power of that until I
understand the power of that until I came home one day and my husband bob was
came home one day and my husband bob was
came home one day and my husband bob was sitting quietly in the living room he
sitting quietly in the living room he
sitting quietly in the living room he was holding a stack of letters in his
was holding a stack of letters in his
was holding a stack of letters in his hand these letters were written by his
hand these letters were written by his
hand these letters were written by his dad who was in the Navy and wartime in
dad who was in the Navy and wartime in
dad who was in the Navy and wartime in the 1940s and 50s sadly Bob spec dad
the 1940s and 50s sadly Bob spec dad
the 1940s and 50s sadly Bob spec dad passed away at a young 58 years old and
passed away at a young 58 years old and
passed away at a young 58 years old and it wasn’t until now that he had been
it wasn’t until now that he had been
it wasn’t until now that he had been given these letters Bob looked me
given these letters Bob looked me
given these letters Bob looked me directly in the eyes and said when I
directly in the eyes and said when I
directly in the eyes and said when I read his letters it was like he was
read his letters it was like he was
read his letters it was like he was sitting in the room with me I felt his
sitting in the room with me I felt his
sitting in the room with me I felt his presence my husband clutched those
presence my husband clutched those
presence my husband clutched those letters to his chest
letters to his chest
letters to his chest saying this is the closest I felt to my
saying this is the closest I felt to my
saying this is the closest I felt to my dad since his passing in 1983 even
dad since his passing in 1983 even
dad since his passing in 1983 even though the letters were written to Bob’s
though the letters were written to Bob’s
though the letters were written to Bob’s grandparents Bob’s dad didn’t know the
grandparents Bob’s dad didn’t know the
grandparents Bob’s dad didn’t know the power that these letters would have on
power that these letters would have on
power that these letters would have on his son years later handwritten letters
his son years later handwritten letters
his son years later handwritten letters affect future generations and can live
affect future generations and can live
affect future generations and can live on and on whether on display in a museum
on and on whether on display in a museum
on and on whether on display in a museum or handed down in a box after someone’s
or handed down in a box after someone’s
or handed down in a box after someone’s passed on letters preserve the memories
passed on letters preserve the memories
passed on letters preserve the memories of lives lived in a way that technology
of lives lived in a way that technology
of lives lived in a way that technology cannot researching for a book I’m
cannot researching for a book I’m
cannot researching for a book I’m working on I asked a hundred people how
working on I asked a hundred people how
working on I asked a hundred people how does it make them feel to receive a
does it make them feel to receive a
does it make them feel to receive a handwritten letter this is just a few of
handwritten letter this is just a few of
handwritten letter this is just a few of their responses because we don’t have
their responses because we don’t have
their responses because we don’t have time to hear a hundred Android one said
time to hear a hundred Android one said
time to hear a hundred Android one said I can’t believe that someone would stop
I can’t believe that someone would stop
I can’t believe that someone would stop their world for more than a couple
their world for more than a couple
their world for more than a couple minutes to take time to gather
minutes to take time to gather
minutes to take time to gather stationery right address seal stamp and
stationery right address seal stamp and
stationery right address seal stamp and mail all for me it makes me feel loved
mail all for me it makes me feel loved
mail all for me it makes me feel loved it makes my heart feel full it makes me
it makes my heart feel full it makes me
it makes my heart feel full it makes me feel like I received a magical package
feel like I received a magical package
feel like I received a magical package it makes me feel closer to the sender I
it makes me feel closer to the sender I
it makes me feel closer to the sender I feel appreciated because it takes
feel appreciated because it takes
feel appreciated because it takes thought and consideration even author
thought and consideration even author
thought and consideration even author Virginia Woolf said I was so pleased and
Virginia Woolf said I was so pleased and
Virginia Woolf said I was so pleased and excited by your letter that I trotted
excited by your letter that I trotted
excited by your letter that I trotted about all day like a puppy with a bone
about all day like a puppy with a bone
about all day like a puppy with a bone and another dear friend said when I saw
and another dear friend said when I saw
and another dear friend said when I saw the writing on the envelope it was as
the writing on the envelope it was as
the writing on the envelope it was as though the day immediately became
though the day immediately became
though the day immediately became brighter in a world where people are
brighter in a world where people are
brighter in a world where people are seeking to understand create meaningful
seeking to understand create meaningful
seeking to understand create meaningful connections and ignite change you
connections and ignite change you
connections and ignite change you already have that power inside of you to
already have that power inside of you to
already have that power inside of you to give a gift that can last forever are
give a gift that can last forever are
give a gift that can last forever are you ready to give a gift that can last
you ready to give a gift that can last
you ready to give a gift that can last forever start with those you love those
forever start with those you love those
forever start with those you love those you’re closest to
you’re closest to
you’re closest to grandparents parents aunts uncles
grandparents parents aunts uncles
grandparents parents aunts uncles siblings when is the last time you wrote
siblings when is the last time you wrote
siblings when is the last time you wrote to them to say thank you I appreciate
to them to say thank you I appreciate
to them to say thank you I appreciate you or just hey I’m thought of you and
you or just hey I’m thought of you and
you or just hey I’m thought of you and wanted you to know whatever it is
wanted you to know whatever it is
wanted you to know whatever it is whatever the sentiment those of you that
whatever the sentiment those of you that
whatever the sentiment those of you that are married when is the last time you
are married when is the last time you
are married when is the last time you wrote to your spouse or significant
wrote to your spouse or significant
wrote to your spouse or significant other when it wasn’t expected on a
other when it wasn’t expected on a
other when it wasn’t expected on a birthday or holiday parents when is the
birthday or holiday parents when is the
birthday or holiday parents when is the last time you wrote to your child and
last time you wrote to your child and
last time you wrote to your child and mailed it to them kids love getting mail
mailed it to them kids love getting mail
mailed it to them kids love getting mail because it’s so rare if you want to
because it’s so rare if you want to
because it’s so rare if you want to inspire someone to write to you send
inspire someone to write to you send
inspire someone to write to you send them stationery who else the list is
them stationery who else the list is
them stationery who else the list is endless what about your boss colleagues
endless what about your boss colleagues
endless what about your boss colleagues employees people you do business with do
employees people you do business with do
employees people you do business with do you write to a vendor to thank them for
you write to a vendor to thank them for
you write to a vendor to thank them for supplies that they provide for your
supplies that they provide for your
supplies that they provide for your company why do businesses display
company why do businesses display
company why do businesses display letters that are written to them because
letters that are written to them because
letters that are written to them because they’re meaningful and our value what
they’re meaningful and our value what
they’re meaningful and our value what about your friends new old new
about your friends new old new
about your friends new old new acquaintances I write two friends that I
acquaintances I write two friends that I
acquaintances I write two friends that I see frequently you should try it it’ll
see frequently you should try it it’ll
see frequently you should try it it’ll surprise the heck out of them and if you
surprise the heck out of them and if you
surprise the heck out of them and if you have bad writing or think you have bad
have bad writing or think you have bad
have bad writing or think you have bad writing you’ve got to let that go that’s
writing you’ve got to let that go that’s
writing you’ve got to let that go that’s just your ego your writing is what makes
just your ego your writing is what makes
just your ego your writing is what makes you uniquely you and if you think you
you uniquely you and if you think you
you uniquely you and if you think you don’t have time to write a letter if you
don’t have time to write a letter if you
don’t have time to write a letter if you have time to scroll through facebook
have time to scroll through facebook
have time to scroll through facebook Instagram Pinterest play words with
Instagram Pinterest play words with
Instagram Pinterest play words with friends or candy crush on your phone you
friends or candy crush on your phone you
friends or candy crush on your phone you have time to write a letter take a look
have time to write a letter take a look
have time to write a letter take a look at what one of my childhood friends
at what one of my childhood friends
at what one of my childhood friends recently wrote to me in a four-page
recently wrote to me in a four-page
recently wrote to me in a four-page letter she’s a busy mom with three kids
letter she’s a busy mom with three kids
letter she’s a busy mom with three kids and she said if you’re wondering how i’m
and she said if you’re wondering how i’m
and she said if you’re wondering how i’m writing this the girls are in the bath
writing this the girls are in the bath
writing this the girls are in the bath turning into prunes but don’t worry they
turning into prunes but don’t worry they
turning into prunes but don’t worry they were they were supervised
were they were supervised
were they were supervised handwritten letters make us feel good
handwritten letters make us feel good
handwritten letters make us feel good people want to know they’re worthy and
people want to know they’re worthy and
people want to know they’re worthy and they matter the most important thing is
they matter the most important thing is
they matter the most important thing is that you’re making a connection to
that you’re making a connection to
that you’re making a connection to create something that will last forever
create something that will last forever
create something that will last forever Maya Angelou once said I’ve learned that
Maya Angelou once said I’ve learned that
Maya Angelou once said I’ve learned that people will forget what you said people
people will forget what you said people
people will forget what you said people will forget what you did but people will
will forget what you did but people will
will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel in a
never forget how you made them feel in a
never forget how you made them feel in a world where many people are feeling
world where many people are feeling
world where many people are feeling powerless isn’t it great to know that
powerless isn’t it great to know that
powerless isn’t it great to know that right now today we can walk out of here
right now today we can walk out of here
right now today we can walk out of here and do something that has the power to
and do something that has the power to
and do something that has the power to change a life imagine what the world
change a life imagine what the world
change a life imagine what the world would look like if we all wrote a
would look like if we all wrote a
would look like if we all wrote a handwritten letter today it starts with
handwritten letter today it starts with
handwritten letter today it starts with one person one pen and one letter thank
one person one pen and one letter thank
one person one pen and one letter thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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