St. Paul Pioneer Press Recommends “Please Write”
“Here’s a gathering of non-fiction for your spring reading pleasure. Treat yourself after working in the garden – and enjoy.”
So begins Mary Ann Grossmann’s review of several nonfiction books, including my own, Please Write, in yesterday’s Sunday paper. A friend alerted me to the fact that my book had been reviewed. It came as a surprise – an unexpected pleasure.
My intent in writing this book was to bring something positive, enjoyable, and educational to the reader during and post-pandemic. I wanted to inspire people to revisit an old activity, or to begin for the first time. That is, to occasionally send their nearest and dearest friends and relatives a handwritten letter. It seems like such a small act, but the impact can be and usually is huge. Why? Because these days, screens increasingly distract us and disuade us from doing those simple acts of kindness that make our lives meaningful and joyful. Most of us take the easy, but not terribly gratifying route, of typing out a birthday text or email for a friend or relative and then calling it good. But for the recipient, it simply falls flat and is not very meaningful. Receiving an actual birthday card or letter in the mail leaves the recipient feeling very differently. They know you had to make an extra effort just for them. This matters tremendously.
In addition to encouraging people to begin writing that occasional letter or card to those close to them, I even went so far as to encourage them to write letters to neighbors, colleagues, and total strangers. People out there are hungering to know they are seen, appreciated and valued. I cannot state this strongly enough. These are hard and often stressful times. A few minutes spent by you writing a note or letter will make such a difference!
If there is anything I hoped to convey, it was that our written words matter. They inform, educate, support, express affection, spread joy and wisdom, and share our wonderful and unique stories in the present and for posterity. Our written words matter more than we can probably imagine. You’ll notice that the vast majority of people never throw handwritten letters in the trash. There is a reason for that. It is that handwritten letters share the unvarnished, most authentic parts of us with those we love and beyond. I am absolutely convinced that the ripple effects of this small act of letter writing are very significant.
So, it was a pleasure to read the final line of Ms. Grossmann’s review:
“By the time you finish it you might want to dig out that pretty stationery and write that letter you’ve had in your head for a long time. Lynne Kolze assures you it will bring unexpected rewards.”