How to pen a love letter for all ages

There is no perfect love. But there will always be a perfect love letter. 

Flowers and chocolates—even clothes and golf clubs—are good gifts but they can only get better when accompanied with a letter. These gifts, however simple or pricey, cannot withstand the test of time the way a love letter can be kept. Ever wonder why some love letters of famous personalities of history end up in museums? A love letter tells not only of emotion but also of time, of political upheaval, of peace.

Peace—a sincere love letter brings peace to the writer and the receiver. Because there is a certain amount of freedom once emotions are said, once a letter is sent. There are things human beings cannot say in person and the absence of spoken words, the written text prevails.  

What makes a perfect love letter then? We asked people of all ages to share their tips.

Walt, 9

• Think about how much you love that person. Show him/her how much you appreciate them by saying thank you for all that they do for you. 
• If you can, add a small gift that reminds you of them, or add their favorite chocolate so they know that you are thinking about them and that you know what they love.

Tabitha, 15

• Be sincere at wag gawing joke ang feelings!
• Write legibly para readable.
• Say all the things you want to say pero be respectful pa rin.

John Raphael, 24

• You write the letter as if your love for that person depends on it. 
• Show your emotions in writing a love letter and let them speak for themselves in showing your love for someone.
• The most important thing in writing a love letter is to show that person how much you care, appreciate, and love them.

Mia, 30

• Let your personality shine through! Add a bit of humor and include anecdotes or inside jokes.

Carmel, 40ish

• A love letter is yours so much as it’s for your lover. So allow yourself to be vulnerable and just express whatever you feel deep within you, acknowledge those emotions, and share them. 
• You can start with a name only you call him and let the words flow. Don’t think too much, just feel. I sometimes start with a fond or fun memory that I want both of us to remember and take it from there.
• A lesson I learned (the hard way) when you pen down a real heartfelt love letter, don’t expect the receiver to write back. Just write for the sake of expressing how you feel without expecting reciprocity. Remember it’s about them and not just you.

Bum, 52