The Joys of Pen and Paper: Heartfelt Connections

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publiclibrarysg

5 min readSep 24, 2020

One of the joys of putting pen to paper is the meaningful gesture of writing ‘thank you’ notes and short messages of encouragement. Heartfelt wishes and gratitude conveyed through paper is different from saying them out loud. In the third part of The Joys of Pen and Paper, we explore heartfelt connection through handwritten notes. (Read Parts 1 & 2.)

Dear Reader,

Writing is all about communication and expression. And sometimes, writing notes and short messages to convey your heartfelt thanks and sincere wishes can be the best way to brighten another person’s day. With the pen in your hand, you hold onto great power, and the words you craft can express your gratitude to others, as well as cheer them on for what they do.

[Image source: GIPHY — Michelle Tanner from *Full House*]

It may not seem like much, but taking the time to write a note is a small gesture that can possibly leave a lasting impression on others. It definitely feels good to be on the receiving end of handwritten notes, but according to studies, it’s also good for your well-being to be writing them too!

An Unexpected, Pleasant Surprise

Have you ever received a surprise handwritten note?

One afternoon earlier this year, I was at KFC with a friend to discuss a project we were working on. Engrossed with our discussion, we hardly paid attention to someone sitting quietly at another empty table with a stack of sticky notes, smiley stickers and other stationery. That was until he came over to our table.

He approached us with a warm greeting and said he noticed that we were working hard in our studies. He handed each of us a handwritten note and before we could ask him for his name, he walked over to another table to do the same.

Not all heroes wear capes. This hero dons a red ‘Service Rockstar’ cap. [Image source: Giselle Lim]

We were touched by his simple gesture and our day brightened by his words of encouragement. When we approached him with our ‘thank you’ notes, he introduced himself as Uncle Philip and explained that this is something he does every day in addition to his job at KFC.

What I observed next was the rippling effect of one small act of kindness reaching out to all those who were around. Soon after, someone else came to our table to borrow a piece of paper. She had also received a note from Uncle Philip and wanted to write him a ‘thank you’ note too.

Connecting People and Warming Hearts

In the book 365 Thank Yous, John Kralik recounts his experience of writing a ‘thank you’ note every day for a whole year. Kralik chose to write out his appreciation instead of simply saying thanks because he saw the notes as pieces of himself to be given to others.

“Things we write in cyberspace are so easily deleted and forgotten…In this day and age, a handwritten note is something that people really feel is special.” — John Kralik, 365 Thank Yous

The notes, he felt, were a better reflection of his sincerity and in the course of the exercise, he found himself focusing more on the people and things he was grateful for. Some of his handwritten notes even led to positive changes that turned his life around, for by expressing his appreciation for others, life became more tolerable for him.

Make Someone’s Day

You don’t need to be a wordsmith to write notes and short messages. If you find yourself at a loss for words, you can kickstart your note-writing with inspiration from great authors, thinkers and inspiring people — just remember to give them credit when quoting them!

The words you pen down could be quotes from a book you read or something that you found off the internet. My favourite place for finding quotes online is The Quote Garden, a collection of quotes by quotation anthologist, Terri Guillemets.

The notes you write don’t necessarily have to be for another person either. You can write notes for yourself to read at a later time. Words of encouragement and affirmation can make someone else’s day, but it can help you get through bad days too.

And with social media, your messages can reach out to anyone. For example, on Instagram, @thoughtswithh shares pictures of quotes on sticky notes to spread nuggets of wisdom to others.

In a movement to spread some positivity, @emmasedition initiated the #postitpositive challenge, inviting people to use sticky notes to (literally!) surround themselves with good vibes. Participants are encouraged to write down their favourite quotes and affirmations on sticky notes, paste them on a mirror or window and take a picture.

Handwritten notes are a thoughtful gift you can give to anyone anytime. Best of all, you don’t need a special occasion to write one. If you can make someone’s day with a handwritten note, why not go for it?

If you need inspiration to get started writing notes, or you’ll like to read more heartwarming stories, check these books out on the NLB Mobile app: