P6- HWL (Hand written letter) Date: 30-12-2014
If you want to express your love. If you want to offer something. If you want to say something to someone. You can do it, by HWL.
Mr. Toastmaster, fellow toastmaster‘s and wonderful guests, good evening.
HWL is not a technical term like XML, WEB or WhatsApp. It is a tool discovered in 500 BC.
Toastmasters any guesses. What is “HWL”?
HWL means - Hand Written Letter (Oldest tool of communication).
It was one of the most exciting days of my childhood, whenever doorbell rings “Tring-Tring”; I used to be the first person to open the door. It was not for welcoming a guest but for welcoming a postman who delivers a letter to us.
I was very fond of receiving each and every letter even though I was too small to read those letters.
Whenever a letter was received by me, all my family members used to assemble to know the contents of the letter. My father used to take that golden opportunity to read and explain to us.
Each letter carried few words for each of us. By listening to my father reading those letters, I used to feel the presence of characters who wrote the letters rather than their simple words.
One of the letter, we received from my Uncle Nagaswar. He wrote that “got a job in government school”. Believe me, in my family that occasion as celebrated like festival Diwali
During my college days I was far from my home but exchange of HWL’s, kept me close to my parents and family. I never felt way from my home.
Perfect way to express our thoughts and message to others is “Hand written Letter”.
I have a good collection of hand written letters. Even today, I read and enjoy them. My grandfather is not there in this world. But I feel his presence when I read his letters .Still enjoy his words written in various letter for me “Dear Lala How are you, you must be grownup, Enjoy your life, take care of your health, bye”.
I love, really love. Handwritten letters! And at the same time I also enjoy writing them too. I always inspire my son and daughter also to write letters to convey greetings.
Fellow Toastmasters, now in this digital age. Hand written letters are disappearing!!
<<“Tring-Tring”>>
I run towards my laptop and check my mailbox. Sometimes by seeing the subject of the mails, I remove the Mail from my mail list .Electronic mails do not touch your heart like HWL.
<<“Tring-Tring”>>
Face book notification has come in my mobile. My friend Ajay is saying hello to me. Same time I have another friend Puja is also online. Let me update my status as “Busy” and say Hi to Puja.
<<“Tring-Tring”>>
One more message has popped in my mobile, this time it is from “WhatsApp”; if this message is from unknown identity, I will remove it before reading it. But If I know the Person starts my conversation and it goes for hours together.
Friends, of late, I felt wasting time on these chat application. Every time I promise to stop chatting. Till now I am not able to keep up my promise.
Now days, everyone sends digital mails and messages. Do you want to stand out from the crowd? If YES send hand written letters.
Toastmaster, Kind of thrill and happiness you feel while receiving and keeping HWL.You will never feel while getting a digital alert. Hand written letters always touches your heart. You can hold it and feel it.
It is said that “More than kisses, letters Mingle Souls “.
I request all of you don’t just send a greeting card, include a handwritten message. After 100 years or more from now, someone may pick up your card and read it, that time you will be remembered even if you have left this world.
I love the efficiency of twitter, Facebook, Email, Blogs. I use them to interact with this hyper connected world but on the other hand I am a firm believer of sitting down and taking time to write a letter to my loved one.
Toastmaster, Pick up a pen and paper. Write your thoughts and send the HWL to your loved one.
Over to you TMOD.