I am by far much more of a fiction reader. It seems my attention span grows and I read much quicker. However, I also like to learn so I have come up with a fiction-nonfiction schedule. Part of my nonfiction reads include biographies. I like to learn about people who are only names to me. Their interests, their weaknesses, their lives. One of the tools most biographers use to peek into the souls of yesterday is through letters. Letters written by and to the person. It seems we can learn a lot – or as much as we can anyway – from their correspondence. This all got me thinking, how will the future generation learn anything from us?

I don’t envy future historians who will have to scan emails and worse, abbreviated texts. What will the text “ru comin?” Have to say about me? What about all the email I have sent that I can’t even access anymore because I forgot the login to my email account?

Ancient people shared their stories on cave walls.

Ancestors wrote letters to kindred, allies, friends, and even foes.

How will anyone study me in the future? If I don’t connect by writing how will my story be shared? I’m just not sure I want future generations thinking everyone agreed with the news stories that currently shape our country and world. Some of us have other thoughts on the matter. But will our voice be heard or will it fade away because we are not writing our thoughts down somewhere that will not fade away?

We are losing something by not writing letters. So much of history has been preserved with simple letter writing. What will future historians use to remember our story?