Lately, I've been thinking about this TEDtalk I watched ages ago about a girl who wrote love letters to random people in order to cope with depression. She made an interesting point about how people don't send letters anymore and as a result, hand-written letters have become very sacred, and receiving a letter or a postcard is an absolute joy. This talk was ages ago, but I was reminded once again of its message when I was reading an article today on The Peninsula on the dying tradition of exchanging cards.
As an extremely frugal person who hates hates HATES spending money, I am in no way against fast, easy and free means of exchanging information via the Internet. In fact I absolutely love the fact that it is very easy for me to send messages quickly, especially when it's in regards to quick and immediate information or those dreaded university applications (major sigh).
But I think that's it. Fast and cheap methods of exchanging info are for information that have no sentimental value (you would definitely not send I love you messages to universities, unless of course, that somehow gives you an edge for your applications. reality check: down the dumpster). Things like letters and cards, they're meant to be given especially to the people you love. These things require time, effort and money and it is these things that help us indicate whether a person truly cares about us or not. It's difficult to evaluate the exact amount of love you receive if you receive a fb message or an e-card that could have just generated in a batch with the same generic message. And then there's that joy of opening a letter to reveal the contents inside. It makes these messages much more valuable and impactful, something that you will be forever imprinted in your memory.
I've realised as well that one of my favourite birthday presents ever, if not my FAVOURITE is the card Rania made for me for my 15th birthday. The card was very pretty and obviously she put quite a lot of effort in it. Everytime I see it I just get this happy, giddy feeling.
During this epiphany, I was also reading up on Islamic articles which were amazing MashaAllah about Dawah and Islam and many other things. And it made me think. With all the rage of dawah being spread through the Internet, why not through letters as well? Of course not in the rigid or dry style of information brochures but more in the old friend style. In a style where the dawah is more like a reminder for Muslims to do good and to keep going on the straight path. Like an old friend. Like an old consoling friend. ( not necessarily pertaining to age). And that dawah wont just be about dawah, it would be about getting to know the Muslim, befriending them and keeping ties together.
I think this is a great way to remind my Muslim brothers and sisters of Islam. Articles on the internet are impersonal, but letters, they are specifically to you and to you only and you feel this sort of special acknowledgement that you matter and there's someone thinking about you. I really want to do this, InshaAllah during the course of 2013. Maybe I'll start with sending letters to my friends every now and then.\ with little reminders for them and personal touches as well.
InshaAllah.
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