We’re back into the thick of letter writing today! If you’re interested in starting this series of ideas and prompts, you can find the introduction to letter writing here. We’ve most recently explored writing a letter to your first love (which you can find here).
Today, I want to explore a lighthearted subject–old friends! Life easily throws us out of touch, even with the best sorts of people sometimes. You just grow apart. There’s no shame in that. But the outlines of these important people still trace your identity and life today, even if you don’t stop to catch up with who they are today. And you know what? In your life, they deserve that reverence, at least ideologically.
Writing to your friend
When you write a letter to an old friend that you haven’t talked to in a while, it is often first impulse to catch them up on how your life looks today. That can be a good jumping off point for you. Let them know what you’ve been up to and all the things that you’re looking forward to in the near future. Tell them about the new phase of life you’ve entered, and ask them about theirs.
Another thing to open up with is to mention why you’re writing this letter in the first place, especially if it really has been so long. You’ve been thinking about them or the past recently, you saw something that reminded you of them, or some random person on the internet suggested writing to an old friend and you thought, “You know who I’d like to hear from?” They’re probably curious anyway.
What do you write?
Now, often enough these kind of letters flow naturally, because you’re talking to someone you have strong memories and positive associations with. But that may not be the case for you. So if you’re feeling stuck, here are some things to consider mentioning.
-write about a memory you both share
-check back in about an old hobby or interest of theirs and ask how it’s going and if they still do that sort of thing
-thank them for the time you spent with them, and the lessons you learned
-tell them something that you learned recently that is relevant to a memory you shared
-old inside jokes to make them laugh
Remember to check in on your old friends, respect them for who they used to be for you, and get curious about who they are now. You never know, you might just make a new friend out of an old one. How poetic would that be?
Thank you for friends
Yet again, even if you don’t write this letter to a friend, take some time out of your day to be thankful for friendship, and all the forms and faces it’s taken in your life. Friends make life better, brighter, happier. They help us learn things about ourselves, other people, and the world around us. And sometimes, they bring bonds that can last a lifetime.
