Frustation and letters in the shredder

When was the last time you wrote an honest to goodness, hand written letter? On nice paper, with a decent pen. Taking time to think the words through, to write something akin to something from another century, another time? Not very long ago for me, or well, I started one. I've learned people can disappoint you in life. People closest to you, people you trust explicitly will do things for all the wrong reasons and betray your trust. I'm too trusting at times, I give everyone a good helping of trust when I meet them... they gain more through their actions and character.

In the Seven Habits class though, they say that's called making a deposit. One withdrawal though can equal several deposits. Too many withdrawals and your trust is gone forever. I decided to write a friend a letter today, someone out of state. Just to revive that letter writing tradition, see if it could be done. When I got home though, they'd made a withdrawal which caused me to shred the half written letter. I think this electronic medium, has led us to be too impatient. Texting one another back and forth can grate on each others nerves. If someone doesn't like chatting with texting, or is busy then it can drive you or them nuts!

We're so used to instant communication, always on connections. I find myself sometimes wishing for a wireless laptop with anywhere internet access so I can stay connected to my friends, but how connected are you really?

It's all just superficial when you think about it. A phone call is better, a letter is tangible, and being able to touch wood at the same table over a cup of coffee is extremely valuable We're becoming digital hermits I am afraid. Stuck at home, chatting... or stuck in traffic, texting... When does it break, when do we have patience again. When do we take the kind of care with our friendships like we should again? I know that true friends will stick when it comes to separating the wheat from the chaff but I still find it annoying that I really like some of the chaff that has been separated out and wish things could be different.

Letter writing is a dead art, hand written ones anyway. Why revive it though when disappointment in someone's actions can cause you to shred what you put so much love into crafting? When the words seem hollow because a friend made a decision that didn't seem right.