Creating things

In a world where many jobs involve processing information, analysing data or coordinating action, there is meaning to having a creative outlet to bring ideas to life by making something beautiful.

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It comes from the striving, the effort and the journey, rather than the destination.

Ms Ding Yuanyuan, 39, keeps old letters in a box in her closet, cherishing both the memories they bring and the effort behind each one.

"Writing a physical letter demands time, planning and reflection," she wrote. "This deliberate effort implicitly conveys to the recipient that they are highly valued, a sentiment often lost in instant emails or text messages."

Writing may be slow and time consuming, but it offers delayed gratification and an authentic connection through each person’s distinct handwriting - smudges and crossed-out words included.

But in the destination, too, there is pleasure: The joy of watching something beautiful come to life.