Setting up a tradition


Do you like to write letters? Have you written to someone recently? I mean the real, physical ones, on those dainty letter heads? I used to write plenty of them, once upon a time. Now with whatsapp and FB messenger and of course our mobile phones I hardly get around to it.

The more close we are to people the less likely we are to write to them. It seems just too formal, right? Perhaps that’s exactly why we need to write to them - a formal declaration, so to say, of our love or appreciation, a recognition of the many ways they make our life special just by being in it. Seeing it in writing makes it that much more real because it can be read and re-read and preserved, the happiness relived many times over.

Am I getting too sentimental? Perhaps! It’s the mausam to get sentimental, isn’t it? Tomorrow is Valentines’ day after all.

Back to writing letters - I’ve never written one to the children. I have often left notes for H and N, small ones - in their tiffins, sometimes on their tables but I’ve never written a full fledged letter. I write to them on the blog and hope they’ll read it someday but I prefer to have heart to heart conversations rather than taking up pen and paper - tweens are an impatient tribe you see. 

However in their tenth year I think it’s time I began a tradition - a tradition of physical cards/letters. I think there may soon come a time when conversations will not always be easy. A tradition of writing to each other may then come to our rescue. It is somewhat of a backup plan that I hope to put in place to make sure our communication never breaks down completely.

This Valentine’s Day I shall write out my very first ones. They’ll be easy to write for they’re letters of love, a great way to begin a tradition.

How about you joining me in writing one to your son or daughter? Or to any loved one - a friend, your spouse, your mum, dad, your roommate.

If you’re not sure how to go about let me share what I will be putting into mine. Well, not the actual letters of course, for those will be very personal, but a template of sorts. Take a look. I guess much of it is applicable to anyone you love.

1. I love you because…
you give the warmest hugs, the sweetest smiles

2. I love how you’ve grown to…
become more sensitive, more caring

3. I am proud of you when
I watch you sharing without complaining, when you talk of books you’ve read or facts you’ve picked up

4. I like how you take responsibility
to lay the table, to make your own breakfast

5. I know I can trust you to
be on your own at home, run errands for me

6. I notice the little things you do like…
switching off the lights, picking up trash off the society lobby

7. I love it when we…
read a book together, watch a film together, bake together

8. You amaze me..
with your insatiable curiosity

9. You make me laugh when you…
make your ‘cute face’, do your ‘happy dance’

10. The best thing about you is that…
you make friends so easily, you are quick to realise your fault.

There, that's it. All you have to do now is get some paper and a pen and write your heart out.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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