If you don’t have a valentine this Valentine’s Day, you might just be able to find one in a stranger. Try handwriting a love letter to someone you have never met through More Love Letters; a movement that embraces the use of personal handwritten letters to share positive messages throughout the world. Whether it is through a specific letter request or left for a stranger around town, the goal is to bring someone light in a time of darkness.
The online community allows people to submit letter requests for loved ones. More Love Letters selects and hosts the requests on its site. Writers from near and far script their love and send by snail mail. At the end of the writing period, a bundle of letters is compiled and delivered to the recipient for encouragement.
The idea that the world needs more love letters was conceived when founder Hannah Brencher found herself facing depression after college. She was inspired by letters her mother wrote to her during college. Hannah started writing her own letters and leaving them around New York City for strangers to find in hopes of bringing them happiness, and found her own encouragement in the process. Bringing joy to others can help heal your own heart during personal struggles too.
Lifting, empowering, and mobilizing individuals is the mission of the organization. It wants writers to embrace themselves and discover something that will make their lives meaningful. Take some time this month to help motivate someone else and slow down to enjoy the small things in life like love letters.
Here are some simple steps to help get you started on your journey of more love letters:
1. Start by picking a letter request. It can be from the More Love Letters website or to no one in particular. You might think you will only do one or set a small goal, but it’s hard to stop once you get going.
2. Find a quote that you think would speak to the letter recipient regarding their situation. I try to keep it positive and motivating to help them overcome whatever it is that they might be fighting.
3. Share some of your own experiences or advice to empower them.
4. Remind them that they are loved and not alone. Just the fact that you spent your own time writing to someone you don’t even know, helps show them that.
For more tips, you can check out More Love Letters’ starter kit.