As part of the Love Project, I’ve written a love letter to myself, letters to strangers, and letters to friends. I like writing them for the pause they entail, the gentle sifting through and reordering of my sweet, jumbled emotions, like lifting a sheet from a clothesline, shaking it out, smelling soap and sun and breeze as you fold it just so…
October is the month of love letters. I’ll be trying to write one every day (though I’m already a day behind). I’ll be writing to people – loved ones and strangers - to things and ideas and places and, undoubtedly, a dog or two. Some I’ll send, some I’ll leave behind, some I’ll keep… and every Monday, I’ll post one here.
There have been a few months during this year of loving fearlessly where the challenge I assigned deeply affected me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. The month of hugs, for instance, which forced me out of my shell in such an immediate, physical way; it was disorienting, exhilarating… freeing. Or the month of self-love which resulted in some painful but also evolutionary personal discoveries. This month, the month of love letters, feels as though it might be one of those. I think the daily shaking out of my heart might be transformative.
I hope you’ll write some love letters too. Or one. Just to do it. Just to feel that sort of internal reordering, the attachment of words to your most heartfelt, generous and all-too-often unspoken feelings.
Funny, I bought 4 boxes of cards today. 3 friendship and one get well. I sat for a couple of hours tonight and wrote some out. They are not letters, but they are filled with love. I can’t wait to read one of yours.
You wrote inside them, right? They definitely count. <3
Oh yay! I am so glad you said they counted because I was thinking tht a letter filled with love is a love letter. :-)
Methinks I need to do some of this. I need some shell breaking, and this might help…
Love a challenge (sometimes :-) )
I highly recommend a hug-a-day commitment for shell breakage, but writing love letters has the advantage of potentially busting through writers block. Write wild, TPM.
Cool. Keep a look out….I think one has your name on it. :)
Yay! *Hurries off to mailbox just in case* ;)
J…I’ve had a tough day where I felt completely misunderstood and betrayed by an old friend. My first love letter is to myself so that I can wake up in the morning feeling more positive. And then, wooo hooooo, I’m going to commit to writing to all my important peeps, and the managers at establishments where I get really considerate service. Without knowing this month’s project, I wrote a love letter to the receptionist at my Dentist’s office today. Makes me feel good to know I’m in synch with the Love Project, and also not as far behind as I might have been!
Please accept this as a love letter to you, because we’ve learned together how hard it is to be vulnerable, to break our shell open and stay with even the not so lovely feelings.
Hugs,
N.
Take some time with that letter to yourself, N. Writing my love letter to me was very revealing – my tendency toward toughness, even when I was supposed to be concentrating on love. I’m going to write myself another one in October, a few months, a few challenges, a few learnings since I wrote that first one… I wonder if it’s not just a good every-now-and-then habit to get into.
I’m sorry about your old friend. I know that’s hard – being hurt by someone you’d never expect to hurt you. Remember that, in all likelihood, it’s more about them than you.
GASP! G.A.S.P! Judy! JUDY! You did it again. You actually made me cry while I read your post. Like..real tears. Mind you I’ve been shedding them on and off all day, and now again…You move me to tears. Extraordinary you are. I will write love letters. Will you email me your mailing address please? I think I’d like to send one to you.
xoxoxo
Awww. Absolutely. Stay tuned. <3
I already had a jump start on this month of love letters and (finally!) sent out all those actual letters (14!), the handmade cards and small gifts to some of the people I love all around the world.
Can’t wait to write some more :-)
PS: keep an eye on your mailbox ;-)
PPS: we mostly use last names first here… I’m sure it’ll be confusing for many.
WOW! Fourteen love letters! That’s awesome. I know not all of mine will be sent. One of the letters I’ve written so far was to summer. (How I miss summer, and where I live, the warm weather has really only been gone for three days!) ;-) But there will be letters I do send, and they will, of course, be the ones that mean the most, the ones that tell other people how much they mean to me.
p.s. One for me! Yay! <3
Hi Judy, all I can say is, I love this idea. I will be looking forward to the Monday posts.
Love Pru
Ah, thank you, Pru. That was the part I hesitated on. Sharing on Mondays. Which of course made me know that it’s just exactly what I need to do. ;)
Speaking of, Paul and I will celebrate our 7th this weekend (feels like 17!)…this was a love letter I wrote to him last year. http://veryculinary.com/2010/10/07/a-love-letter-and-cocoa-krispie-brownies/
I love your love letter. And I love that you baked (gorgeous) brownies neither of you could eat. What will you be making this year? (Wait, don’t tell me. I sense a VC post in this.)
love letters.. so wickedly cool
can’t wait to read yours.. they always touch my soul
you fill the world with love
and fearlessness
love you right back
“you fill the world with love and fearlessness”
If I could be known for anything… that would be it. Thank you. (You just made me mushy.) xoxo
I already wrote two on Saturday and I’m planning to write some more later. :)
Yay! xo
just found your blog from the rumpus. when does the love project end?
The big, fat master plan goes all the way through December. But the project has so taken on a life of its own and affected me in ways I never imagined at the beginning, I’m continuing it (and expanding it) for next year.
I LOVE The Rumpus.
Love letters. Awesome. I love getting snail mail. I recently sent off love letters to Hannah. I will have to get in on this letter writting.
It’s fun, isn’t it? And, for me, there’s a bit of eternal magic that happens when I sort through what exactly I want to say to someone (or something) I love. A sort of soul poetry.
Continuing next year AND expanding? Oh my. I cannot wait!
Continuing AND expanding??? My heart just went “pitty pat pitty pat” and did a full forward summersault. I cannot wait to see what’s next!
Hugs!
You’re so sweet! Yes. I am plotting like a crazy love-artist-scientist over here. I’m excited (and a little terrified, but mostly excited). xox
Wonderful.
I will be writing at least one love letter this month, as it contains my sweetie’s birthday–I always wax rhapsodically mushy on his birthday card. :)
Looking forward to your Monday letters. <3
Awww. How cute are you? (I’m only a tiny bit nervous about Mondays.) ;-)
Dear j,
Although I am at work I carved out this bit of time, just a minute or two, to put eternity into words. Thank you for your energy, your zest, and all the happiness you have given me since we first met, just a year ago. It is surprising how close I feel to you, even though we live thousands of miles away. I love zebra sounds as it connects me to all the people and thoughts that I want to be surrounded by… Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love all of you and all of yours. I am so happy to be a part of your circle.
Sincerely, Meg
Dear Meg,
You just turned me into a mushball… Thank you.. Has it been a year?! You make me happy for the magic of the interwebs – connection without regard to geographical boundaries. I’m grateful for all the words you’ve sent me, on blog and off. You’ve taught me more than you can possibly know. My circle is brighter for your presence.
Big love,
j
Hi Judy:
Your project is absolutely amazing…thanks for sharing your insights of what your learning along the way. It’s been a long time since I wrote a love letter, but I know how writing words can be amazingly powerful. Hmm who can I write one to? Anyhow, thanks again and keep up the great work here!
Hi, Tim. Thank you! I definitely think you should write at least one love letter. Like so many things (I’m learning), you just don’t know what it’ll do to you until you try it. ;-)
My love letter to me includes, “I will be kind to you. I will care for you. I want the best for you.” I am best placed to do this. After two meetings I have a first date on Saturday, with an amazing, glorious person.
Oh, yay! I’m sending good, positive vibes your way. I want the best for you too. <3
Thank you. I think God (whom I understand panentheistically) does too.
I’ve never been clear on the distinction between panentheism and pantheism, but my lack of theological savvy is less important than your date. *hug*
This is a wonderful idea. Making a little list now. . . .
It’s been really interesting to me, though I’ve now missed a couple of days. Sitting in a park waiting for The Boy, watching some kids in an daycare play, I wrote a love letter to a little girl in pink tights and a Hello Kitty shirt. In the act of writing a love letter like that, you wind up not only appreciating your view, but also, thinking about your values and about what’s most important in the world.
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