I Love Handwritten Notes

Up until the day my mom passed, she kept a white lined tablet on the kitchen table. It was only for leaving notes. I loved that she didn't get rid of past notes — she put a line through them and kept the notes going.

If you stopped by and she wasn't home, she expected a note. Something simple. "I was here at noon. I will call you later." Or "Stopped by and borrowed some milk. I'll call later."

She, in turn, would always leave a note whenever she went out. "Gone to get a haircut. Back by 3:00. Love, Mum."

This went on all my life, until she was gone.

I've never had a partner, spouse, or roommate who grew up with this kind of habit. And now, with the invention of cell phones and texts, who needs to communicate that way anymore? I do.

I need it.

Today I came home after a long morning of my least favorite tasks, with my partner gone. I knew where she'd gone because I knew what she had to do today. I was a bit grumpy from the residual energy of waiting in long lines at understaffed places like the post office and the bank.

And there, on the counter, was a note. A simple note with a heart.

My own heart swelled. I was taken immediately out of my sour mood and lifted up.

A simple token. A reminder that I was thought of and considered. A tangible reminder, rather than a text that flows into the ether.

But this is not just my personal preference.

Science reveals that when someone reads something handwritten, the brain actually engages with the information differently — and more actively. Research from Millward Brown and Bangor University, using fMRI brain imaging, found that "physical materials lead to greater emotional processing...the real experience is internalized, which means the materials have a more personal effect."

And it works both ways. The act of writing a note by hand, rather than typing on a keyboard or sending a text, engages more regions of the brain in the person writing it, too. As Professor Kuniyoshi Sakai, neuroscientist at the University of Tokyo, puts it: "Paper is more advanced and useful compared to electronic documents because paper contains more one-of-a-kind information for stronger memory recall."

Your handwritten note isn't just a message. It's a neurological gift.

So Here's Your Assignment

Go find a notepad. Write something to someone today. It doesn't have to be long or poetic. It just has to be real, and it has to be yours. And let me know how it feels, what you notice, and what reaction you receive.

And if this kind of reflection on human connection and curiosity speaks to you, come find me in both of my spaces.

At Beth Wonson & Company, I work with leaders and organizations navigating hard conversations and meaningful change.

And at Beth Wonson Is Curious, I explore curiosities and questions that make us more connected to people and to nature. I'd love to have you along for both.

I look forward to seeing you!