Learning to Love the Lost Arts

Running out of things to binge-watch on Netflix? Do you keep refreshing the page on Instagram and TikTok in hopes for something else to watch or like? Feel like you’re running out of options? With not being able to visit friends and go out to do things, it seems like options are either running out or becoming rather boring. Telling your mom may result in chores and telling your dad may result in a “hi, Bored, I’m Dad” that just makes you roll your eyes as you sigh exasperatedly and wander back to your room to scroll again or watch cat videos for the 19th time this week. The idea comes to text your friends to see “what’s up”, but the conversation doesn’t run very long and after a couple hours you’re back to the same routine you’ve had for the past couple weeks now.

People are talking about the better ways we might be able to connect with each other virtually in the future, and the kinds of games we could play then, but why sit around and wait for the future when we can go back and learn from the past? Letting the “lost arts” come back would certainly occupy time and may be the kind of refresher you’ve been searching for, because let’s face it, most naps are out of boredom nowadays, not to refresh.

So, what are these “lost arts”? Lost arts are defined as (according to Webster’s Dictionary) as something usually requiring some sort of skill that is not commonly done any more. You may think of things such as crocheting, knitting, or basket weaving (okay, maybe not basket weaving), and lose interest, but there’s more than those. Other lost arts include things like baking (yeah, that’s a lost art!), having a picnic, sewing, embroidery, or even writing letters.

Writing letters is one of the simplest yet endearing ways to communicate to people. It’s one thing to text someone a “what’s up”, but it’s another to send them a letter through the mail asking them how they’re doing and maybe provide encouragement or stories or positivity to help them through their day. Writing letters takes more time than a quick text and can really show people that you’re willing to take that time out of your day for them. The exchange also allows you to take the time to focus on that person and get to know them better than simple text messages.

Letters are also a way to reach out to people that may be unreachable at the moment, like grandparents in retirement communities that are on a full lockdown. When people can’t have people physically there to provide comfort or cheer them up, a surprise letter is sure to warm their heart and remind them they are still thought of and cared for.

Letter writing and these other lost arts are great ways to spend your days and make these times in quarantine ones to look back and remember how we were able to overcome boredom rather than to hit “yes I am still watching” for yet another time this week. Let your eyes see something other than a screen, something that may have a better lasting impact, too.