Why do we need love letters?
By: Alexandra I.
Tags: Spirituality, Art, Poetry, Self-awareness, Life

Why do we need love letters?

What is written can’t be erased, what is said can be forgotten.

Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

Once upon a time one of my friends, let’s call him Bob, was very close to lose investments for the project of his life. Allow me to mention that Bob was looking extremely hard for investors. About three years of struggle it took him. So, he finally found an investor, and everything should be on track but here came misunderstandings…Bob did something behind the investor’s back without even seeing that it was wrong, Bob thought he did well, but the investor didn’t share his opinion and said: “I am calling off the deal, I don’t think I can trust you, Bob!” In front of Bobby’s eyes was the picture of his bankruptcy, a loss of his house, car, all money on his accounts, and that was when he called me in panic. Luckily, I am a well-trained panic-monger sedative (thanks to my Mom, but that is another story). I listened carefully to Bob’s story and suggested him to write a letter with all explanations and apologies to his offended investor. Bob did it and his project got desirable investments. Afterwards that investor told him: “If it was not your letter, I would not invest.”

After Bob’s situation I saw just another proof that we still need love letters. Of course, in this case of investments it was not the sensual love what the investor needed, he needed respect and an act of trust. I suppose it is THE love in business.

I always liked writing love letters; I still do. I believe that in letters we can fully describe and show ourselves, our feelings and emotions. And better handwriting letters, because a handwriting can tell a lot about his owner. There is a whole study behind it! For instance, people with small handwriting tend to be shy, while those who love attention have large handwriting.

But the most valuable for me in letters is that you really show that you free time to write them. Trust me, anyone will appreciate that you put aside other stuff and spare minutes for writing a letter. It shows more than you even imagine. It shows respect, care, love. And that’s what we need the most.

“…My heart is full of so many things to say to you — ah — there are moments when I feel that speech amounts to nothing at all —

Cheer up — remain my true, my only treasure, my all as I am yours.

The gods must send us the rest, what for us must and shall be — Your faithful LUDWIG” Beethoven Love Letter to His Immortal Beloved.

I often read love letters of great people: Lord Byron, Victor Hugo, Beethoven. I would like to receive a lot of love letters! I would like My Man to see the beauty of putting feelings in words, but in the modern world short slang messages and emojis replaced long sensitive letters. There is always no time, there are only rush hours, people get used to write fast and answer even faster. If you don’t keep that speed it immediately creates panic, conflicts, fear. But where is Romance?

I never felt myself suitable for that time. I am not active in social networks; I can easily forget my cell phone at home and not being frustrated about it; I don’t like selfies and share pictures of my breakfast; I don’t see any value in living online life — it is just not for me, but I respect people who like it. Anyway, we are all different. For example, I am old-fashioned and I am proud of it!

Photo by Simon Hattinga Verschure on Unsplash

I miss those days when we didn’t have mobile phones and no one knew where you are. I remember I had a boyfriend and he was waiting for me every day in front of the door of my mother’s apartment building, because he never knew at what time I will be at home in the evening after my classes and after school activities. That was romantic! And he was always with flowers, at least with one flower! You should’ve seen my happy face when I was noticing him. When was the last time I had the same feeling? Hm…

Again, at school I remember I had a big fight with my friends. A lot of bad words were said. I thought I can’t fix it, but then I decided to write them letters. You see when you write a letter you have time to think, to reflect (that is why journaling is so useful), to understand, to explain yourself, your vision, your pain or joy. Through letters you can fully show your personality. Everything in your writing gives hints about you: words and expressions you use, punctuation marks, quotes or jokes, your jumping letters or accurately written sentences.

There is nothing better than to hold in your hands a real handwriting letter! Because it is real, it’s not digital. You can feel the paper with your fingers; you can smell the ink on it, or maybe can smell the perfume — that’s how they did it in the past. And that was smart, because the brain immediately tied the odor to the image of the person who wrote you and the next time you saw her or him a pleasant anxiety filled your body. One sincere letter can be stronger than thousands of pronounced words, and besides it is always priceless to have a love letter from someone who is deeply in your heart.

“A real love letter is made of insight, understanding, and compassion. Otherwise it’s not a love letter. A true love letter can produce a transformation in the other person, and therefore in the world. But before it produces a transformation in the other person, it has to produce a transformation within us. Some letters may take the whole of our lifetime to write.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

What do you think about love letters? Please, don’t be shy and leave a comment!