From a very young age, I was taught that words mattered. The words that you choose to speak and write could have a profound and long-lasting impact on someone’s life. This probably played into one of my primary love languages being Word of Affirmation. Words have the power to tear people down, or build them up. To speak confidence and appreciation to someone, or to hurt and make others feel small.

I think the power of the written word in particular is often lost on my generation and younger generations. The way in which handwritten letters and notes can change the course of someone’s thinking is diminished to a fleeting text message in a hurried day. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t send the text, to let someone know you are thinking about them. The unbelievable access we have to one another makes our ability to communicate on a regular basis easier than ever.

What I’m saying is that, there’s power in the written word. There’s power in the thank you note, to show how much you appreciate someone’s thoughtfulness. There’s power in the handwritten birthday card. One that includes thought and effort into expressing yourself and your feeling towards that person.

There are days when I go back and re-read some of the cards and letters I’ve received over my life. In fact, I’ve kept every card Nathan has ever given to me in our relationship: tucked away in a box. Occasionally, I sit down and just start reading from the beginning of our relationship. The likes that turned into loves. The hard times, the really, really good times. And I find myself, an hour later, still sitting on the floor of my closet just reading.

There are notes kept from friends that we have long since lost touch. Letters from my grandma, who past away years ago, but meant the world to me. Beautiful reminders of the life I have lived and the impact I have had on others, and they on me. Maybe today is the day you sit down and write someone a note. They could keep it and be reading it years from now.