There’s something about opening an envelope with your name on it, written in someone else’s handwriting that feels different. It is not just different from an email or a text but more intimate. More personal. Like someone took time out of their day to think about you, sit down with a pen, and put their thoughts on paper just for you to read.
That’s the magic of a love letter. And believe it or not, it’s making a bit of a comeback.
Why Are People Writing Again?
In a world where you can send a heart emoji in two seconds flat, you’d think handwritten love letters would’ve gone extinct by now. But nope. They’re slowly, quietly returning. Maybe not with the volume they had back in the days of long-distance wartime romances, but enough to make you notice.
Part of it probably has to do with how fast everything is now. Instant messages. Swiping. Voice notes. It’s all very convenient, but sometimes it feels hollow. It’s like it’s missing the weight that comes with something handwritten. A letter, on the other hand, asks you to slow down. To be present. To say what you mean, not just what’s quick or clever.
People are starting to realize that. And honestly, thank goodness for that.
McMeekin Would Agree
If you’ve read Tampa Airport Proposal or spent time exploring Thomas McMeekin’s world, you know this kind of heartfelt connection is at the core of everything he writes. His love story wasn’t rushed. It unfolded across miles, memories, and letters in all their forms. Even the airport proposal itself had that timeless, handwritten energy. raw, emotional, and intentional.
A text might tell someone you’re thinking about them. A letter shows them.
What a Letter Says
Let’s get into what love letters communicate beyond the words.
They say: I sat down and thought about you. I missed you. I wanted you to hold something real, not just read something on a screen. They show patience, vulnerability, and care. Every loop in the handwriting, every crossed-out word, every scribbled heart or smudge tells part of the story.
You don’t need to be a poet. You don’t have to write in perfect sentences. You have to be honest.
Say something like:
“I saw a flower today that reminded me of your laugh.”
Or:
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this: I want to keep showing up for you.”
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.
The Emotional Impact Hits Different
Have you ever saved a message from someone, even after they’re gone? Most of us have. A text can fade or get lost in a phone upgrade, but a letter is different. You tuck that into a box, slip it in a drawer, and maybe even read it years later when you’re feeling nostalgic or need a reminder that you were loved once and deeply.
Love letters linger. They live in pockets, under pillows, between pages of old books. They get passed down or rediscovered. And when you reread them, you hear the voice in your head. You remember how it felt the first time you read it. That feeling is gold.
Bringing Letters Into Modern Love
You don’t have to live in a Nicholas Sparks novel to bring this back into your own life.
If you’re in a relationship, try this: write a note and hide it somewhere. Slip it into their bag, leave it on the dashboard, and tuck it into the fridge next to their favorite snack. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be grand. Just real.
Suppose you’re in a long-distance relationship, even more reason. Mail something. Write on real paper. Perhaps even add a photo, a small drawing, or a pressed flower. Physical reminders of love carry energy that no app can replicate.
Even if you live together, there’s still beauty in receiving a letter. Sometimes, it’s easier to say things on paper that feel clumsy out loud. Sometimes, we want to be reminded that we matter enough for someone to pause and write it down.
And What If You’ve Never Written One?
That’s OK. You may always start now. Don’t think too much about it. Think of something you like. Something you’re thankful for. Something that made you happy this week because of them.
Next, please write it down. Sign it with love. Put a seal on it.
Believe me, it will mean more than you think.
Final Thoughts
Love letters aren’t about being romantic in the traditional sense. They’re about being real with someone. They’re about pausing long enough to say, “Hey, I care. I see you. I want you to have something of mine that lasts.”
In a world that moves at lightning speed, choosing to slow down and write something by hand feels like rebellion. The good kind. The kind that makes people feel seen and held.
So go ahead. Pick up the pen. Say what’s on your heart. Chances are, they’ll hold on to that letter for years to come.