40 Things To Do at 40: Discovering the Benefits of Handwritten Letters

When I first wrote down my list of 40 things to do in my 40th year, writing a letter to someone who lives far away was a simple addition.

Writing a physical letter has changed. People just don’t do it so much these days.

I remember when I was younger, having a pen pal in Germany and being absolutely chuffed when his letters arrived. A piece of post that had travelled miles, meant purely for me!

Now, the only things that come through the post are bills and the occasional Amazon parcel (which, let's be fair, is sometimes a bit exciting in itself). But this activity on my list gave me insight, rather than just receiving a letter...

Benefits of Journaling & Benefits of Handwritten Letters

I write with pen and paper all the time. I am an avid journaler, and it is a massive part of what keeps me properly grounded.

Putting pen to paper forces you to slow down.

It pulls you away from constant screen stimulation and gives you space to reflect, process, and make sense of what you are experiencing. (If you ever feel the pull to put pen to paper and have an hour to yourself, you are always welcome to join me at one of our online Seasonal Journaling Sessions here).

But writing a letter to someone else is a completely different energy to journaling.

When you journal, you are writing to understand yourself.

When you write to someone else, you are gifting them your time and attention.

There are so many benefits of handwritten letters...

It requires you to sit still, think deeply about that person, and intentionally share a piece of your world with them offline.

It’s an act of deliberate connection in a world that often feels far too fast.

A Surprise In The Post

So, when I received a handwritten letter in the post a while back, it was brilliant.

It was even more exciting to realise it was from a lovely woman on my mailing list.

She often replies to my emails digitally, but on this occasion, she had decided to physically write a response.

She shared what was happening in her life and how she was feeling, and I felt so incredibly privileged that she took the time and effort to write to me.

I was going to reply. I kept meaning to.

But life got busy, as it always does.

Between juggling three businesses, studying for my wilderness therapy programme, and navigating the unpredictable temperament of a six-year-old, things happened.

Soon, the letter disappeared from the front of my mind.

Then, the other day, I saw a post of hers on Facebook. I often see and engage with her posts online, but for some reason, this specific one sparked my memory.

So, I went on a mission to dig the letter out so I could finally write back.

Ticking Off the List with Intention

I spent a whole morning writing.

First of all, it started with a massive apology about the delay in responding, it had been over a year!

But then I took the time to properly respond to her thoughts and share some of mine.

I also created a visual journal entry piece of art for the day and found some little gifts I could slot into the envelope for her.

I really hope that when she opened it, it made her day just a little bit better.

I originally added "write a letter to someone far away" to my list because I wanted to prompt a bit of creativity and force myself to step away from the screens.

When I first started putting my 40 Things To Do at 40 list together, it was easy to fall into the trap of thinking every single item needed to be a massive, life-altering adventure. But in a modern world that is constantly rushing, perhaps sitting down at the kitchen table with a proper cup of tea to write a handwritten letter is a grand gesture.

As I mentioned when I first shared my list, this year isn't about achievement or proving anything.

It’s about creating pockets of meaningful experiences in my everyday life.

It’s about tending to the roots of the connections that genuinely matter and choosing to live with a bit more awareness.

As luck would have it, this overdue act of connection to a lovely friend helped me tick off another item on my list, while reminding me of the simple joy of slowing down.

If you want to see what other quiet moments (and a few slightly more chaotic adventures) I’m planning for this year, you can read my full 40 Things To Do at 40 list right here.