Why I Still Write Letters by Hand, and Why You Should Too

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1. 01Why I Still Write Letters by Hand

   Good afternoon. I'm a software developer, so I spend all day typing. But once a month, I sit down with a pen and write a letter by hand. Today, I'd like to convince you to try it too.

   下午好。我是一名软件开发人员，所以整天都在打字。但每个月有一次，我会拿起笔坐下来，亲手写一封信。今天，我想说服大家也来试一试。

2. 02How It Started

   It started when my grandmother passed away. Among her things, I found a letter she had written to me when I was ten. Her handwriting, her little drawing in the corner: it felt like she was in the room. No text message has ever made me feel that way.

   这件事始于我奶奶去世的时候。在她的遗物里，我找到了一封她在我十岁时写给我的信。她的字迹，她在角落里画的小图，让我感觉她好像就在房间里。从来没有哪条短信让我有过这种感觉。

3. 03Reason 1: It Shows Real Effort

   The first reason is effort. A message takes ten seconds. A letter takes time, thought, paper, and a stamp. The person who receives it knows that you chose to spend that time on them.

   第一个理由是用心。一条消息只要十秒钟。一封信却需要时间、思考、纸和邮票。收到信的人会知道，你是特意为他们花了这些时间。

4. 04Reason 2: You Write Differently

   Second, you write differently. Without a delete key, you slow down and think before each sentence. I often write things in letters that I would never say in a quick chat.

   第二，你写的方式会不一样。没有删除键，你会放慢速度，每写一句话之前都会先想一想。我常常在信里写一些在快速聊天中绝对不会说的话。

5. 05Reason 3: It Lasts

   Third, a letter lasts. Messages disappear in an endless scroll, but a letter can sit in a drawer for decades, just like my grandmother's did.

   第三，信能留存下来。消息会消失在没完没了的滚动里，但一封信可以在抽屉里放上几十年，就像我奶奶的那封信一样。

6. 06"But My Handwriting Is Terrible"

   Some of you might say, "But my handwriting is terrible." Honestly, that doesn't matter. Mine is messy too. People don't keep letters because they're beautiful. They keep them because they're personal.

   有人可能会说：“可是我的字太难看了。”说实话，这根本没关系。我的字也很乱。人们留着信，不是因为它漂亮，而是因为它是写给自己的。

7. 07How to Start

   Here's an easy way to start. Write one short letter a month, just half a page. Thank someone: a teacher, a friend, a parent. You don't need special paper. You just need to begin.

   这里有一个简单的开始方法。每个月写一封短信，只要半页就好。向某个人表达感谢，比如老师、朋友或父母。你不需要特别的信纸，只需要开始动笔。

8. 08Conclusion

   In conclusion, in a world of fast messages, a handwritten letter is a rare and lasting gift. Who will you write to this month? Thank you.

   总之，在一个充满快速消息的世界里，一封手写信是一份难得又长久的礼物。这个月，你会写信给谁呢？谢谢大家。