Before there was something called “the internet”, we were expected to go outside, and see if the mail had been delivered. We would organize the mail into three categories: checks/bills, letters, and junk. No matter what system we used to organize the mail, we always knew “what was what” – even before returning home. Upon our arrival, junk was immediately banished to the trash, and the rest would be delt with as soon as possible.

In our modern society, the advent of “the internet” punched holes in our primitive routines. Somewhere along the line, we were encouraged to keep constant tabs on the mail – although this time, the mail in question was email.

Electronic checks and bills are not very hard to imagine, and we will always be able to recognize “junk”. Letters, on the other hand, are not what they used to be. Today we recognize different ways of contacting one another: email, Twitter DMs, FaceBook Messages, IM, SMS, etc. Each “way” encourages a different type of response. I’d like to think the letter evolved into email.

In primary school, we were taught to write letters. I will never forget how the teachers encouraged us to focus on the format of the letter; at the time, it seemed more important than what we were writing. After entering secondary school this changed, but I don’t think any of us could say, “I forgot how to write a proper letter.” Email, on the other hand, was a completely different beast. At first, we were told to write emails like we would a formal letter. Some listened, while others found it “easier” to forgo the formatting and “small talk” nature of the traditional letter. These renegade students adopted instant messaging as their primary form of communication, which encouraged sloppy formatting when it was time to send an email.

Somewhere along the way, we broke the system; ancient formatting does not have a place in the modern world. And, to say “no care” is put into our day-to-day conversations would be an understatement. Here is an example of what I consider an awesome email. It also happens to be how I try to write *every email* that leaves my inbox.