Dear John... Why We Should All Be Writing Letters

Dear John The Queen has been known to send her recipes by personal post, whilst Fidel Castro once famously asked US President Franklin D. Roosevelt for $10 via one. In more recent times, Emma Watson praised Steve Carell for his support of gender equality and similarly Beyoncé penned a humbling note to the First Lady Michelle Obama, citing “Michelle, is the ULTIMATE example of a truly strong African American woman“(above). The common factor bringing them all together – the handwritten letter.

Wherever you come from and whatever your background, letter writing should become your new favourite pastime. “Receiving a handwritten letter creates feelings of excitement,” David Cole, CEO Pen Heaven. says. “It’s not often we get them so it’s always a very pleasant surprise to see a handwritten envelope in between a pile of bills.

“There is something incredibly personal about a handwritten note,” David goes on to say, “the gratitude that it expresses, the memories that it brings back and the appreciation you feel really does boost your mood.”

Known for its therapeutic benefits for both author and receiver, online gift hub and stationary specialists Pen Heaven offer their top 5 reasons as to why we should be moving away from the keyboard and picking up our pens.

1) It’s stress relieving – many studies have shown that writing can be an effective way of combating stress and anxiety. Just a few minutes set aside each day to collect yourself and your thoughts can help. It’s also a great way to channel negative energy, whilst improving your mental wellbeing.

2) It’s personal and expressive – the ideal way to show someone you care and that they are in your thoughts. It also never hurts to say ‘thank you’

3) It’s a keepsake – to be kept in a shoebox in the closet, or filed away neatly, a handwritten note captures true feelings and a moment in time to be remembered and cherished.

4) It’s romantic – who could forget Ryan Gosling in The Notebook “I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you every day for a year“?

5) It’s the perfect excuse for stepping away from the computer and putting down you phone – more than just words on a screen, the handwritten note won’t run out of battery or be dependent on your wifi!

Miss B

Belinda Wanis, aka Miss B, is a Belle About Town who likes to bring a little bit of style into every aspect of her life. An experienced journalist with over 20 years in the industry she turned to the web, creating Belle About Town in early 2010, to fill a gap for tech-savvy stylish women who want the best life has to offer at their fingertips. She loves a decadent cocktail bar, a beautifully cut dress, cultural getaways, quality over quantity and is partial to Asian-fusion food. A globetrotter, who has lived in Australia, the UK and Denmark, she enjoys holidaying in the sun and you can often find her on a beach in Thailand or on shopping breaks in Sydney or New York. But her first love is, of course, London!

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