I’m writing love letters in October. I haven’t managed a love letter every day, but so far, I’ve written one for my soul sister, one for the only person I know who lives in Romania, and two for incredible women I first met online and then fell in love with in the physical world. I’ve written a love letter to my yoga mat, to NPR and to my notebook. I’ve written to a fierce little girl in pink, to Ash (my mostly sweet old dog) and I’m in the middle of drawing a love doodle to someone I adore in Texas.
I’m so enjoying this, for all the reasons I knew I would – the slowing down, the focus on love, the distillation of what makes someone or something important and special to me. But there’s something else. Writing to people (and dogs and radio stations and precious everyday things) about why I love them changes my whole outlook. I feel altered, like loving the targets of my letters makes me more inclined to love generally. I get a little love high. If you haven’t written any letters yet, do it. It does something to you. I promise.
Okay so. Every Monday, I post a letter here…
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Dear Summer,
I miss you! I know it’s only been about five days since I last wore flip-flops, sitting out on the patio at dusk, grilling pizza, drinking wine, talking life, love, religion and politics with people who aren’t afraid to let a conversation wander where it will. Five days without you and I’m a little bit bereft. What can I say? I’m a one-season girl.
I love your sunshiny ways. I love your cut grass-sunscreen-warm-earth smell, your blue skies, your fat, gorgeous, leafy trees. I love your wide-open-window nights of cotton sheets and ceiling fans. I love how kids revere you and adults fill you up with vacations and beach trips and barbecues.
Dear summer, I love how you inspire naked limbs, swept up hair, bare feet and skinny dipping. No other season is as seductive and playful, as heavy and soft and full. You’re jazz, a long sax note on a sweet starry night; you’re the Beach Boys Barbara-Ann-ing along the shore; you’re rock and roll anthems played to thousands of pumping fists at concerts held outdoors.
As I write you this letter, I’m watching sun-kissed drops fall from the branches of trees after a sudden fall downpour. It’s pretty, I admit, but I’m not fall’s proper audience. This show is for someone else. Me? I’m only pining, biding my time, waiting for your return.
Love, j
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Have you written any love letters? (Feel free to write one here… you can tell fall why you love it more than summer.)
Yay, the only person you know who lives in Romania. I wonder who that is? Oh, wait… ;)
Love your letter to Summer, j!
And it’s funny cause actually I wrote a love letter to Fall a few days ago which I’ll share next Monday, as part two of today’s post where I shared a few thoughts (and a pic I love) on my love letter sending.
Thank you for being so inspiring with your Love Project!
Watch your mailbox!
And thank YOU for always being willing to play with me. I spent some time this weekend writing about the love project – the monthly challenges, the ways in which I’ve tried to incorporate what I’ve learned, how those things have changed me. I’m so grateful for people like you who’ve tried it all with me, letting love change how we move in the world. xo
Hi Judy, yes, you sure are a summer girl. Me, I’m an Autumn girl. I can wait to see the last of the heat, the flies, and the dang grass that won’t mow itself. I love the cooler days, the vibrant colors, and wearing the warm cozy sweaters. Different strokes for different folks. Have a stellar day.
Pru
I think Autumn girls (and boys) are FAR more common than summer girls. I know very few people who prefer the long hot days of summer. Love your list of Autumn loves. You should write a letter (or poem or post). :)
Your summer lasted much longer than mine, but I do love it for all the same reasons. Fall’s growing on me for some of the same reasons Pru pointed out. I’m up to 10 letters so far, and hoping to knock out another one today! Something tells me I’ll be writing them for a much longer time, well after November creeps up on me.
It’s back, actually (though it wasn’t when I wrote the letter). Just heard on NPR that inland (that’s me) we should reach the high 80s today. Woo-hoo!
I was thinking about that too. I probably can’t keep up this pace, but writing a love letter every Sunday (or something like that) feels doable. I am so enjoying this… especially as I get more and more creative about the way I deliver my “I love you” message.
Dear J
you are wild and wonderful and inspiring and your love of summer shines… I am autumn’s audience … so here it goes..
Dear Autumn… although I prefer to call you fall because I love your arrival.
falling into fall ~ let the wind blow me away ~ & wrap me in leaves
I welcome you like an old friend,
as you push away the humidity
and warm my mornings,
and cool my nights
I love the nip in the air you bring
the colours and everything
the frost on the edge of the dew
waking up daily to something new
wrapped in a blanket
crunching through the leaves
snuggling close by an outdoor fire
watching your coolness paint the sky
thanks for filling my days with your beauty
Love Moon
Well, okay. When you put it like that, I guess Autumn is kind of cool. ;-) B
Seriously, that was lovely! I was secretly hoping someone would write a love letter to fall!
spring/summer here
The warm months. A man after my own heart.
I like Winter, a time when the World rests, and we get cozy inside. I like Spring, first sight of new wild flowers, ducklings and cygnets. I like Summer, for reasons you mention, I like sandals and flowing cotton skirts; and I like Autumn, blackberries, fewer insects, softer sunshine.
You’re a woman of all seasons (which makes you generally much more satisfied than I am). Thank you for reminding me what’s good about Autumn. It’s true, there are fewer bugs. (And it’s pretty in its own non-summery way.)
Ah, that is the thing. I am seeking to be satisfied, to notice what is, not what is not. Happy about good stuff existing not sad about good stuff not existing. Noticing the canal, the hills, the coots and the swans rather than the odd beercan dropped by the path- giving that beercan only its proper weight. Noticing improvements I can actually make: don’t sweat the Big stuff(!)- the stuff I can actually live with, and cannot improve.
So true. It is when I focus on abundance rather than lack that I find, miraculously, the universe cooperates… gives me more love, more beauty, more connection. Thank you for this. xo
If you like that, then see my Autumn poem, just appearing now.
I’m pretty sure Summer loves you right back–it returned when you said you missed it.
Choosing a favorite among the seasons is not easy for me. I think I’m sort of a spring/autumn person–I love the slightly stirred-up transitional feeling in them. Summer is wonderful, too, for its long days and barbecues– and I love winter Bay Area style, when the hiking trails are surrounded with vibrant green rioting plants. As the song says: It’s all too beautiful. <3
I know! I almost didn’t post my love letter because it’s so warm and beautiful out now. But it wasn’t so warm and beautiful five days after we all sat out on my patio eating grilled pizza and solving the world’s woes. ;)
I’m a one-season gal too! My heart belongs to you, Summer. *fist bump*
Really?! I knew you were wonderful! <3
You know, every season I change my mind again. I think ultimately, autumn is my favorite, but mostly I just enjoy when the weather and atmosphere change. I like newness — something to look forward to. I know you’re supposed to live in the present and all that, but I’m always looking ahead. I enjoy about the first month of each season as it comes around, and then I’m getting excited about the next. I look forward to cuddling up for winter, but once winter has droned on for a few months I can’t wait for spring and flowers! So I guess my love letter wouldn’t be to one season; it’d be to them all. <3
I do that too. (Although I am most reluctant to let go of Summer.) I do like that feeling of change in the air. It always seems it’s about more than just weather.
Damn girl. Your writing seriously rocks my world. I just go right there with you & I come back shifted–brighter.
I love your love letters and you.
The feeling is absolutely mutual. Love you back!
Loved the title of this post! And your letter is absolutely gorgeous. It makes me miss summer even more, as I sit here wearing layers and wishing the furnace would kick on.
Loved this wonderful bit from your letter:
“No other season is as seductive and playful, as heavy and soft and full. You’re jazz, a long sax note on a sweet starry night; you’re the Beach Boys Barbara-Ann-ing along the shore. . .”
Thank you, Milli! No sooner did I write the letter, the weather changed. We’ve been in the 80s and 90s for the last few days. I wish I could share the warm!