[arunima]

July 1 is observed as National postal workers Day in India. In honour of this Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru held workshops for letter writing on July 5, 6 and 13. This was done in collaboration with India Post. Many youth participated enthusiastically in the workshop and also those who had nostalgic memories about letter writing. And they cherished the experience. Participants learnt about structure and tone while writing on blue islands and post cards. It was 30 minutes workshop. Seems like the younger generations struggled to fill a small post cards. Most of them are used to short posts on social media.Older ones were soaked and could go on and on. Many held pen and paper for writing after a long gap.
In today's world of emoji, short texts and likes, letter writing is forgotten art. These workshops were in recognition of wave of nostalgia for the creative expressions of the past. They were celebrations of slow, intentional and meaningful connections.
What are some lost arts that brings nostalgia to you? Would you love to be a part of such workshops to revive the old lost arts?

[Jem Smith]

I write letters often as a hobby. I have a few penpals and I like getting mail. It's gotten more expensive in the last couple of years though because the price of stamps keeps going up. I like to use a fountain pen as well.

[Netherrealmer]

Its not completely dead to penpals of prisoners

[eldavis]

Over here it's pretty much dead, we don't even have any active postal office in the first place.

[arunima]

@Jem Smith. That's wonderful and interesting. What used to be something of great use can now at least be pursued as hobby. I have fountain pen too. I enjoy writing beautifully with my hands. I do Journaling and I feel a soul connection with every word that I pen down. It's healing.
@Netherrealmer. Yes, they still use it.
@eldavis. We have very few post offices left here too. It's very scarce and they also might shut down. They are surviving mainly for courier and parcel services.

[ragdollie]

I used to write letters to a penpal of mine from London, it was really fun! We both would decorate the paper with washi tape and stickers to make it prettier. While I no longer receive letters from her, I still have penpals in China and the Philippines. I just write emails since it's easier for them, though. Right now I'm putting together a gift for one of them to send in the mail, and I got to write a letter again for the first time in a while.

[ptrikha21]

I would like to do so. My kids wrote to a Ministry as part of a campaign in late 2021 on postcards.
It was interesting.
I remember writing letters to my father and brother in early 2000s when I was away from home for a few years. It does brings back the nostalgia !

[OldGuy]

A huge part of the art of actually writing letters is in the penmanship. Penning a letter in block letters is no where near the art of cursive writing in penmanship and that has not even been taught in schools for years. The younger generation can't even read cursive writing.

On the other hand, every person develops a unique style, making the handwritten cursive letters a real challenge to read. My dad's handwritten notes and letters were so hard to read that the best you could do was figure out bits and pieces to even get an idea what he was trying to convey. Mom's handwritten notes were so pleasant to read it felt like you were strolling through a very nice garden path.

Cursive writing reveals a lot about your personality. Block letters are boring in comparison. All of that is left out with emails and text script. I frequently enjoy writing in backwards cursive and even recall turning in homework for school that was written backward. You had to hold the page up to a light and read from the back of the page. Some teachers even gave me extra credit for those. It just made it more fun to produce. I also practiced and could write with either hand although the penmanship was so varied between left and right renditions made it seem as if it came from two different people. Back during my school years, I could even write two different sentences at the same time with a pen in each hand. I have not tried that in over a half century. Fun memory though.

At any rate, if you are going to bring back pen and paper letter writing, you also need to bring back cursive writing to give each letter the personality that is lacking with block lettering.

[germainebull]

This really touched me because it shows how ancient arts can teach us patience and depth of communication. Letter writing is not just about sending a message but also about reflecting, choosing words carefully and expressing emotions in a unique way. It’s like writing with the heart instead of fingers.

One of the lost arts that brings me a sense of nostalgia is hand-drawing in a notebook or a love letter. Also taking pictures with a film camera and waiting a few days to see the results. There is a certain beauty in waiting and sharing the whole process without rushing. Even sending holiday cards by post had a special weight.

I would really like to participate in workshops like these. It is a chance to return to the roots of true communication and original creativity. In a fast-paced world with emojis, it is good to remember that handwritten words have a special weight. Let’s step back a little so that we can move forward wisely.

[Padmavati753]

Absolutely! Letter writing holds a special charm. I’d love to participate in similar workshops. Reviving these connections is essential. What a wonderful initiative!