25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 3

For the original idea, please go here.

22 Days till Christmas – spreading love with a friend

A little while ago, I was listening to a filmmaker talk during a panel discussion and he mentioned how he was good at being a filmmaker, a dad and a husband but not so good at being a friend.

That’s always stuck with me. I understand what prioritizing is all about and how friendships can be difficult to maintain when other things come before them.

But a beautiful thing about friendships is that the door can always remain open. And I truly appreciate my friends who understand the way I prioritize my life.

I had made plans to go to a dear friend’s place for tea today. We haven’t had one-on-one time in months. I decided to go to her and spend the couple hours we had (before I had to go to work) just listening and being there for her.

The universe works in mysterious ways. She actually needed to talk about something and I had no idea. We spent our visit doing just that.

I think more times than not, being a friend means just listening. And rather than judging, just sharing your thoughts.

 

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

 

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 2

For the original idea, please go here.

23 Days till Christmas – spreading love with letters

A while ago, I read a memoir by Hannah Brencher, “If You Find This Letter”, which details her journey of creating “More Love Letters”,  a global organization that is geared toward compiling letters of encouragement and support for people who need them.

When I read her book, I was moved. I thought the idea of strangers spreading love through letters was both simple and brilliant. But I never did anything about it… until today when my Spread the Love project made me think of her movement. So I looked it up and got to work.

These personal acts of letter writing are perfect for the time we live in as impersonal forms of communication reach a peak. I’m drawn to Hannah’s idea because it utilizes global connection along with good old-fashioned handwritten letters, which one can argue is becoming a lost art form.  It merges the strengths of both.

For the second day of spreading the love, I participated in The World Needs More Love Letters Movement. I drafted four letters to the individuals currently listed on the site and popped them in the mail.

This is only the beginning of my love letter writing though. As I wrote these letters to strangers in need, I found myself genuinely wanting to be helpful and encouraging and loving. I signed up for their newsletter and will now actively be a participant.

Sometimes, people just need to know they’re not alone. And a love letter to a stranger can be an excellent way to show that.

Spread the love. #spreadthelove