the words jumble on my tongue
but the pen spills my truth
Remember the days of pen and paper? Notes tucked into envelopes and carried away by strangers? Remember waiting with baited breath for a response?
I've written letters to pen pals in foreign countries, celebrity crushes, magazine editors, family and friends. I even wrote a letter to NASA and they sent me a bunch of cool photos.
And of course I've written countless unsent letters, spilled secrets, burned away words of past lives.
Letters are sacred, especially now that email has taken over. It must've been years ago that I received an actual paper letter.
I'd like to breathe life back into letter writing. Letters slipped into my love's pocket. Letters on small scraps of paper, hidden for a stranger to find. Letters to people I admire just to say thanks for being awesome. Letters to myself.
Let's revive this art. Surprise someone - your partner, someone you admire, a stranger, yourself. Some tips:
Let go of fear. Shush the inner critic. Your letter doesn't have to be poetry or mushy gushy. It only has to be you, your voice, your thoughts. Share your real feelings.
Use special paper and something you enjoy writing with, whether it's a marker, black ball-point, or pink ink. Or...you know, scribble your musings on a napkin if inspiration hits.
Spritz your favorite perfume over the paper. Let the scent inspire you.
Think about what kind of letter you want to write and how you want the reader to react. Do you want to tease, seduce, encourage, inspire? Let the feelings guide your words.
If you need a starting point, think about why you adore the person you're writing to. What makes her unique? What are the little things he does that make you smile? You could even write it out in list form:
Dearest love bug,
Reasons I think you're awesome:
Your hugs make me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Your lips are like pillows.
You bake out-of-this-world cupcakes.
Be as over-the-top or simple as you want. These are your feelings, your love and admiration etched onto the page.
Who will you write a letter to first?
