I love to write letters to people – especially heartfelt, potentially over-the-top cheesy letters to people that I care about.  Unfortunately, in this day and age, most of the people I know would rather get a text or a Facebook message from me than a letter, and it seems like a waste of time to sit down and write a letter when I’m not sure how they’ll receive it or if they’ll appreciate it.  A few months ago, I stumbled across a website, called http://www.moreloveletters.com , that connects users to people who are truly in need of a kind, handwritten letter. 

Each month, the website chooses two or three people, based on requests from its own users, and asks for people to write them a letter of love or support.  The website will feature their first name and their story, so that anyone who wants to can write a personal, meaningful letter to that individual.  Sometimes the people are struggling with an illness, a death, or could just use a little extra encouragement.  One of the most recent recipients was a young woman named Priscilla, who was recently left widowed with two young boys to care for and be strong for because her husband, or as she called him “the love of her life,” passed away.  The letters are mailed into the PO Box of Hannah, the website’s founder, and after making sure that the letters are appropriate and safe, she forwards the letters to the man or woman receiving them, keeping the full name and address of the individual a secret. 

The site also periodically posts additional “assignments” to write anonymous letters to people who could probably use a little more encouragement and appreciation for what they do every day, such as to a teacher, a maid, or the guy who makes your coffee in the morning. The goal of the website is to get people to reach out and let people know that someone took the time to sit down and handwrite them a letter of thanks, support, or love.   These are my favorite types of assignments to participate in.  I like writing letters for people that I actually encounter on a day-to-day basis.  Making a difference to anyone is a valuable experience, but it is even more rewarding to make a difference to someone I know.  I love seeing them in a good mood and wondering if my letter helped contribute to that.

Moreloveletters.com is a phenomenal example of old and new media existing side by side.  In this case, the new media of an online website is not trying to replace an old media, the handwritten letter; it is actually helping the old media to thrive and grow.  Although the internet is a faster and oftentimes more convenient way to contact someone, as moreloveletters.com shows, there is nothing like receiving a handwritten letter.  A handwritten letter is valuable precisely because it takes more time and effort to create.  A handwritten letter says, “I care enough about you that I took time out of my day to sit down and write this letter, address this letter, and walk it to the mailbox.”  Because it is written in your own, unique script, it’s more personal, and a personal connection to others is really what we’re seeking – not a faster and more convenient connection. 

The people who spend time on moreloveletters.com are intrinsically motivated; they have to be.  All of the letters are anonymous, so they will never receive any sort of thanks or acknowledgement for taking the time to write a letter to someone. Most of the letter writers are amateurs, having had no special training and seeking no sort of recognition.  In Shirky’s Cognitive Surplus, I thought it was interesting that the word amateur comes from the Latin word “to love.”   The letter writers on moreloveletters.com are truly amateurs in the sense that they spend their free time in this way simply for the love it.  Most people do it simply because they enjoy making someone feel good.  Knowing that you’ve brightened the day of someone who needs it is enough; no extra external reward is necessary.